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A barn at Stoney Brook Farm went up in flames on Friday, killing 18 chickens.
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Friday Afternoon Fire Destroys Cheshire Barn

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — A fire on Friday afternoon destroyed a barn at 920 Sand Mill Road.
 
The building is a total loss but firefighters were able to prevent the flames from reaching another nearby barn and the house at Stoney Brook Farm. 
 
Fire Chief Thomas Francesconi said the fire was called in 12:39 p.m. by the homeowners "but it already had a foothold before they noticed it."
 
Responding firefighters found the L-shaped structure fully involved. Adams, Lanesborough, Savoy and Windsor fire companies responded and Williamstown Fire covered the station.
 
The tankers were used to transport water from a nearby brook until a pool could be set up near the scene and water pumped into it. 
 
Northern Berkshire EMS responded and one firefighter was treated at the scene and then taken to Berkshire Medical Center. 
 
Francesconi said there were no other injuries but the owners told him there were 18 chickens in the barn. The structure also had equipment and other materials in it, including a Jeep. 
 
"We don't have any idea of the cause but the fire marshal is on the way, said the chief. 
 
Firefighters were trying to douse hotspots but the structure's metal roof — now on the ground — was making it difficult to get into certain areas. The owner had a small loader on the way to help push the roofing aside. 
 
The property has been in the Zieminski family for several generations. A section of the road in front of the home was closed off for a couple hours.
 
"We're just kind of mopping up operations at this point, as far as pulling the metal roof and getting into pockets of it, that kind of stuff," the chief said at about 2 p.m. "But we are starting to demobilize to send parties back."
 
All companies were released at 4:39 p.m. and returned to quarters. 

Tags: structure fire,   

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Adams Prudential Committee Evaluating Truck Replacement

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire Department's Engine 2 is suffering from rust and the Prudential Committee needs to decide if it should be fixed or run until it can be replaced. 
 
Fire Chief David Lennon told the Prudential Committee on Monday about the condition of the 20-year-old truck and acknowledged it's going to be an costly endeavor. 
 
"If we choose to do this, it's going to be so expensive that it would have to be put out for multiple people to look at and possibly bid on, but moreover, we have to look at what the long-term plans are to decide if we want to spend that money on that truck," he said. "If we're going to replace it on its usual schedule, which would be in under 10 years now, so we have to decide."
 
Lennon said his thought was that it was similar to getting a medical diagnosis: since they've got one opinion, "it'd behoove us to get a second opinion to see.
 
"We see that it's rusting, but is that rust going to be completely detrimental to running that for the period that we want to run it for, and have somebody else look at it now," he said. "As far as who that would be, I don't know, but I think that's what we should discuss and see moving forward."
 
The committee set a workshop for Friday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m.
 
Superintendent John C. Barrett said he plans to install a new system and water main for the Adams Housing Authority's 64 one-bedroom units in the Columbia Valley facility, which will mean a new suppression system for all of the buildings.
 
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