GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — At approximately 8:51 p.m. Tuesday evening the Great Barrington Fire Department (GBFD) was dispatched for a 911 call reporting a person yelling "fire" at 4 Manville St.

 

Police cruisers arrived on the scene and found fire in a wall and below the floor of an apartment above a storage garage. Officers evacuated the building as Great Barrington Engine 3 was arriving.  Fire units found smoke in the garage space, and apartment, and coming from the eves of the multifamily apartment building.

 

Great Barrington Car 2 requested a first alarm. Great Barrington's Engine 3 crew quickly located the origin of the fire in a soffit in the garage storage unit below the apartment. Rescue crews searched and verified all occupants were out of the apartment complex while firefighters opened up the soffit and wall to extinguish the flames. The first alarm was quickly canceled with the exception of Sheffield, for GBFD station coverage.

 

The fire was under control in approximately 15 minutes. Fire damage was contained to the rear of the garage storage unit and the floor and wall of the apartment above.

 

"This fire had the potential to have a different outcome had it not been for the early detection from the smoke detectors and occupants," GBFD Fire Chief Scott Turner said.

 

The cause of the fire is believed to be a result of improper installation of electric heat tape on pipes and is being investigated by the Great Barrington Fire Department. There were no injuries and the scene was cleared at approximately 10:45.

 

"There is a lot of winter left and the potential for some cold snaps," Chief Turner added. "I want to stress the importance of properly installed heat tape on pipes and recommend that all installations be performed by a licensed electrician in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions."

 

Great Barrington responded with 16 members in three engines, a rescue, and a ladder.

 

They were assisted on scene by Egremont Fire Chief Joe Schneider assisting Command, the Great Barrington Police Department, and the Fire Department Support Group. The Great Barrington station was staffed by an engine from Sheffield that answered an alarm call to Simon's Rock while covering.