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North Adams Blaze Blamed on Oil Burner
 Firefighters quickly doused a small oil burner fire on South Street on Friday night. |
The first 911 call occurred around 9 p.m. after the homeowners were alerted when their smoke alarms went off. A second call, a few minutes later reporting the same fire, confirmed it.
The home owners met Police Officer Mike Goodson in their front yard, then took him around back and down the basement stairs where the fire was. Two fire trucks responded to the scene and quickly contained a small blaze in the basement.
"It was a small basement fire that the oil burner caused," said Fire Director Stephen Meranti at the scene.
The fire trucks blocked up both ends of the street, which connects Spring Street and Washington Avenue, and police detoured traffic.
"The smoke alarms did their job to — keep a small fire, small that is," said Meranti. "Keeping a small fire small is a goal firemen and police officers hope to quickly establish in these situations."
There were no injuries but large fans were brought in to take ventilate the house and eject the smoke (and its strong smell) left behind.
Meranti said it was not clear why the fire started at the oil burner but he recommended residents get winter heating appliances anually checked, "whether it be gas, electric or oil," to prevent accidents.
The road was reopened before 10 p.m.
