Air quality advisory issued due to a structure fire at a former factory in Adams | Breaking
ADAMS — An air quality advisory was issued and two downtown schools were sent home for the day because of smoke from a stubborn structure fire at the former MacDermid Graphic Arts factory on Harmony Street.
With part of the roof collapsed, firefighters from multiple communities were blocked from getting direct access to the flames inside the sprawling building. Instead, crews attacked the fire from the outside and from up high using ladder trucks.
Firefighters are on the scene of a large structure fire on Harmony Street in Adams.
Every time it seemed firefighters made headway, another plume of black smoke would emerge, and the wind, blowing from the west, would carry the smoke into town.
As the fire burned into its third hour, the Adams Alert Hose Co. reached out to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and issued a public safety alert, transmitted by smartphone, over the air quality.
Large plumes of smoke can be seen over downtown Adams as firefighters battle a large structure fire at 10 Harmony St. And air quality advisory warns residents with breathing issues to stay indoors and close all windows until the smoke has cleared.
“Residents with breathing issues should stay indoors and close all windows until [the] smoke has cleared,” the alert said.
About 12:45 p.m., two state Department of Fire Services’ trucks were on the scene with responders wearing hazardous materials jackets.
Adams Fire Chief John Pansecchi said a first alarm activated mutual aid from North Adams, Cheshire and Savoy. A second alarm, issued from the scene, brought Williamstown and Landsborough into the effort. Pittsfield firefighters, Northern Berkshire EMS and officers from the state Fire Marshal’s office were on scene, as was a firefighter relief effort from Hinsdale.
Firefighting equipment was staged throughout the neighborhood, and on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, which runs behind the building and across the nearby Hoosic River.
Firefighters are on the scene of a large structure fire at 10 Harmony St. in Adams.
The property card on the town website lists the building as having 236,749 square feet of space on a lot of nearly 5 1/2 acres.
Pansecchi said the sprinkler system in the building is inactive and, as a result, there was to be no work taking place inside without his being notified. To the best of his recollection, he said the building had not been in use for about 20 years.
Sending firefighters inside to battle the flames was quickly ruled out.
“Parts of the building had already collapsed prior to this. And parts had collapsed since the fire started, and it’s really not safe to go inside,” Pansecchi said. “The problem is, there is a lot of debris that’s falling down on top of stuff that’s burning. So it just feeds it … it’s just a lot of just pouring water on it.”
Water supply was initially a problem, as the closest hydrant was on a smaller main that couldn’t supply enough water fast enough. So firefighters extended lines to hydrants on Commercial Street and Pleasant Street and got all the water they needed.
Northern Berkshire EMS and a relief bus from the Hinsdale Fire Department provided water, snacks, coffee and temporary heaters for firefighters. The Daily Grind of Adams also made sandwiches for first responders.
The cause was not immediately known, and would not be known for some time, Pansecci said. “We’re just right now pouring water on it, and we may have to bring some heavy equipment in to take some of the building down.”
Water is sprayed from above onto the fire.
No injuries were reported.
Property records show the building is owned by 10 Harmony Street LLC, whose principal is listed by the Secretary of State’s office as John D. Duquette Jr. of Florida. Duquette was on the scene Wednesday afternoon, but declined to comment at this time.
The building was previously home to W.R. Grace, a chemical company, and MacDermid Graphic Arts, which made printing plates.
School was canceled for students at Hoosac Valley Elementary School and Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School, both located on Commercial Street, authorities said.
Dozens of masked students led by teachers could be seen exiting the BART school building as smoke filled the air.
According to an Adams Police social media post, those students went to the Adams Visitors Center.
Hoosac Valley Superintendent Aaron Dean said he was informed around 8 a.m. by bus drivers, town officials and staff already at the elementary school that there was significant smoke around the building, and no end in sight for the fire.
The district called its families and posted on social media, as did the Adams Police Department. Buses were sent around to inform families and pick up children who didn’t have an adult at home, and those students were brought to the Hoosac Valley Middle and High School gym, where a staging area was set up to reunify children with families.
“It went fairly smoothly,” Dean said. “We practice those things for a reason.”
“BART was already in session and will be evacuating to the Adams Visitor Center,” Adams Police posted on Facebook.
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