No Injuries In North Adams Vehicle Fire

By Jack GuerinoPrint Story | Email Story
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire Department quickly snuffed out a vehicle fire on Ashland Street on Thursday morning.
 
The call came in around 9:30 am, and Lt. Matthew LaBonte said the driver was at Hometown Tire when her car began to smoke.
 
"It started to smoke on her so she drove over here," he said. "It was an engine compartment fire. That is where it started. It burned right through the firewall."
 
LaBonte said the driver drove the Chrysler Pacifica next door to Berkshire County Construction where she safely exited the vehicle.
 
"This was a good spot to have it," he said.
 
LaBonte said upon arrival the vehicle was on fire, but firefighters were able to quickly put it out.
 
"It was burning through. The window was already blown out," he said. "But once you put the hose in the front of the vehicle it extinguishes pretty quick."
 
LaBonte said not only does a vehicle fire pose an immediate danger to the driver, but the fumes released are not safe to breathe in.
 
"It is not good to breathe in; vehicle fires are bad," he said.
 
The vehicle was heavily damaged, but the driver sustained no injuries. The fire engines left the scene right before 10 am.
 

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North Adams OKs Property Sale, Vac Truck Buy

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday sold off a dilapidated property and approved borrowing of more than $600,000 for a new vacuum truck. 
 
The property at 135 East Quincy St. was acquired for back taxes through Land Court. Mayor Jennifer Macksey said the city had a buyer at $30,000. 
 
"Folks, I was shocked that we even got a buyer," she said. "When we took it, I was afraid we were really going to own it. The back of it is like missing it's in deplorable condition."
 
However, there were four or five interested buyers with the $30,000 cash bid being the best, the mayor said. The delinquent taxes on the property are $80,000.
 
"We are taking a loss on it, but again we're hopeful that they will flip it, so to say, and get it back on the tax rolls," said Macksey. "So technically, I don't have to ask you for permission, because it is a foreclosed property, but as I said before, I'd like to inform you of the good work that [Treasurer/Tax Collector] Jessica {Lincourt} is doing, and that we are moving these tax title properties through foreclosure, which we hate doing ...
 
"But this house has been vacant for a very long time, and we have a lot of complaints from the neighbors out there about this."
 
In answer to questions, Lincourt said 44 properties are currently in Land Court. 
 
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