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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Wigwam Western Summit Getting Ready to Reopen for Season

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The Wigwam has offered hospitality to travelers on the Mohawk Trail for nearly a century. Prior owners Lea King and Wayne Gelinas refurbished the dormant cabins and turned the two-story house into a lodge. The Scofields are eyeing some updates of their own. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The new owners of the Wigwam Western Summit are gearing up to open for their first full season.
 
Kelly and Alan Scofield, who purchased the gift shop and cabins will be opening May 9.
 
"What we're looking to create here is not just a gift shop for people to come in and get a cup of coffee and a pastry, but we're really looking to create a destination for people to stop," said Kelly Scofield. 
 
"There's so many people that stop in here and say, 'I used to drive here when I was little with my parents or I had my first kiss in the parking lot or something like that so we really want to create memories.'"
 
The Scofield's bought the business from Lea King and Wayne Gelinas, who invested heavily in renovating and updating the century-old tourist stop during their seven years of ownership. King helped them learn the ropes the first couple months and Scofield says she still reaches out to King for advice and wants to make them proud.
 
"We actually closed [the sale] the end of Sept. 24, so right in the middle of our busy season here on the Mohawk Trail, we jumped right in, didn't close at all and stayed open through the end of October," Scofield said.
 
"They live right in the area here and I message her all the time if I have a question. She is a huge supporter and she put a lot of blood, sweat and tears to bring it back."
 
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