Firefighters attack a fire on Spring Street early this morning. [Photo by Sue Bush]
Williamstown - A Spring Street building sustained smoke, flame and water damage this morning and a town police officer is credited with discovering the blaze while out on patrol.
Subway Building Basement Fire
The building that housed a Subway sandwich shop was heavily damaged during the blaze, which was reported at about 3:52 a.m..
Police Officer Detected Fire
During an on-scene interview, Town Assistant Fire Chief Robert Briggs said that the fire was active in the building's basement and firefighters were inside the building attacking the flames. A town police officer discovered and reported the fire, Briggs said.
Town police Chief Kyle Johnson said that police Officer Joe Ross was patrolling the Water Street area when he smelled a strong smoke odor and investigated the odor's source. Once on Spring Street, Ross noticed smoke rolling from the Subway building and immediately called for the fire department.
Ross's actions probably kept the situation from becoming significantly worse, Johnson said.
"He smelled the smoke and he tracked it down," Johnson said. "This could have been a lot worse. Officer Ross actions most likely kept the fire contained to the one building."
Several fire trucks and yards of water-carrying hose lined Spring Street as acrid smoke poured from the building and smothered the street with a thick cloud-like canvas.
Firefighters were observed entering the building from the rear, which is adjacent to the Purple Pub, and ladders were propped against the building sides.
Town firefighters almost immediately called for assistance from the Pownal Protective Fire Association in Pownal, Vt., and a safety team from the Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Department was called to the scene. Members of the PPFA were at the fire scene and provided coverage at the town fire station. Stamford Volunteer Fire Department firefighters provided coverage for the Clarksburg fire department.
As of 6 a.m., firefighters remained on the scene of the fire.
Gas and electric company crews were called to the scene to cut power and gas service to the premises.
Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal have been called to the scene. During an on-scene interview with Briggs, he said that at that time, there was no fire cause determined but he noted that firefighters were still battling the blaze.
As of 5:30 a.m., there were no reported firefighter injuries.
The Village Ambulance Service was at the fire scene.
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Williamstown Planners Green Light Initiatives at Both Ends of Route 7
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Jack Miller Contractors has received the town's approval to renovate and expand the abandoned gas station and convenience store property at the corner of Sand Springs Road and Simonds Road (Route 7) to serve as its new headquarters.
Last Tuesday, the Planning Board voted, 5-0, to approve a development plan for 824 Simonds Road that will incorporate the existing 1,300-square-foot building and add an approximately 2,100-square-foot addition.
"We look forward to turning what is now an eyesore into a beautiful property and hope it will be a great asset to the neighborhood and to Williamstown," Miller said on Friday.
Charlie LaBatt of Guntlow and Associates told the Planning Board that the new addition will be office space while the existing structure will be converted to storage for the contractor.
The former gas station, most recently an Express Mart, was built in 1954 and, as of Friday morning, was listed with an asking price of $300,000 by G. Fuls Real Estate on 0.39 acres of land in the town's Planned Business zoning district.
"The proposed project is to renovate the existing structure and create a new addition of office space," LaBatt told the planners. "So it's both office and, as I've described in the [application], we have a couple of them in town: a storage/shop type space, more industrial as opposed to traditional storage."
He explained that while some developments can be reviewed by Town Hall staff for compliance with the bylaw, there are three potential triggers that send that development plan to the Planning Board: an addition or new building 2,500 square feet or more, the disturbance of 20,000 square feet of vegetation or the creation or alteration of 10 or more parking spots.
Jack Miller Contractors has received the town's approval to renovate and expand the abandoned gas station and convenience store property at the corner of Sand Springs Road and Simonds Road (Route 7) to serve as its new headquarters. click for more
The Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday to begin considering grant applications for the fiscal year 2027 funding cycle. click for more
Town Meeting will be held at Williamstown Elementary School for the first time since 2019 after a unanimous vote by the Select Board last Monday night. click for more
It is unknown just how steep, but Superintendent Joseph Bergeron tried to prepare the School Committee at its January meeting on Thursday.
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