PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A storage shed was destroyed Sunday after a refuse fire was left unattended.
According to Deputy Fire Chief Steven Peaslee, a 25-foot by 12-foot storage shed is a total loss at 275 Highland Ave. The shed stored a lawn mower, bicycle, outboard motor, construction materials and other household items and will cost an estimated $50,000 to replace, according to fire officials.
A smaller storage shed at 275 Highland and a garage next door at 279 Highland Ave. were damaged somewhat from exposure to the intense heat from the fire.
The cause is undetermined and the investigation is ongoing, according to Peaslee, however, the "probable cause is an unattended, unauthorized, nearby refuse fire within 15 to 20 feet of the outbuilding."
The owners of the property said they were burning construction-type wood debris the night before. The shed caught fire around 1 in the afternoon when nobody was home. The call was placed by a neighbor, who saw smoke, and no injuries were reported.
"Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire under high-heat conditions from both the fire and warm weather," Peaslee said in a release.
Highland Avenue was closed briefly while the firefighters battled the blaze. Firefighters used "several hand lines" to extinguish the fire.
"The storage shed was fully involved on our arrival. Heavy, black smoke plume could be seen for miles atop the hill on Highland," the release reads.
Pittsfield.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
MEMBER SIGN IN
