Firefighters were mopping up the area around 5:30 a.m. See more photos on North Adams 911.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Officials are investigating a Sunday morning fire that forced a family to flee their home..
The blaze at 76 Tyler was called into the Fire Department line at about 4 a.m. by a neighbor.
"Lt. [John] Paciorek arrived on scene, he had fire on the porch" prompting him call everyone in, said Fire Chief Brent Levebfre. "The father was outside asking about his wife and kids, who were still inside, and they made entry through the rear door and kitchen to try and push the fire back on itself."
The family was evacuated from the building and take to Berkshire Medical Center's satellite emergency facility mostly as a precaution. Levebfre said he believed there was some smoke inhalation and a cut hand.
The fire progressed quickly through the windows on the porch — opening the rear door to get to the family created a chimney effect pulling the fire up and through the house, said the chief.
The building suffered fire and water damage but Lefebvre thought it largely superficial and that the structure — except the porch — appeared to have escaped severe damage. It would be a gut job to repair, he said.
The chief said firefighters had done a good job in getting the fire swiftly under control within about 20-30 minutes. Northern Berkshire EMS, North Adams Police and Wire & Alarm and Clarksburg also responded. A downed wire on a fire truck disrupted operations for a short period.
Lefebvre said it looks like the fire started on the porch but couldn't speak to the cause at this point. The state fire marshal had been called to assist with the investigation. The home is listed as being owned by Brittney Flynn and Arthur Schmidt.
Lefebvre has been in the top job for two months now after a dozen years on the department.
"We're adjusting, we're doing good and I got a really great group of guys underneath me," he said. "My predecessor left me in a great spot."
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Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.
More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.
Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.
One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."
Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.
Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.
One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
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