Courtesy of the Berkshire Eagle
By Phil Demers
ADAMS— Lightning caused a fire in an East Road home Saturday but a “quick attack” by Adams Fire Department brought it under control in just 11 minutes.
Robert Mendel, of 139 East Road, was sitting in his living room watching television when he heard a bolt of lightning hit awfully close around 4 p.m., according to Adams Fire Chief Paul “P.J.” Goyette. “There was a ground lightning strike somewhere in the vicinity that got its way into the house through the electrical system and into the attic,” Goyette said. The lightning hit hard enough to dislodge sheet rock from a ceiling in the home. Mendel, who was accompanied by his wife, daughter and two of his daughter’s friends, soon smelled smoke. He called Adams FireDepartment at 4:09 p.m. “We got the call at 4:09; we arrived at 4:12, and [ the fire] was under control by 4: 20,” Goyette said. “The guys got in there and made a very aggressive attack.” Twenty-three firefighters total went to the scene. Cheshire Fire Department covered the Adams station during the response. Goyette described the damage as “ minimal, probably under $ 1,000” and said it wouldn’t be necessary for the Mendels to find lodging elsewhere.
The storm in Adams on Saturday was relatively isolated to Northern Berkshire and lasted about 20 minutes.
By Phil Demers
ADAMS— Lightning caused a fire in an East Road home Saturday but a “quick attack” by Adams Fire Department brought it under control in just 11 minutes.
Robert Mendel, of 139 East Road, was sitting in his living room watching television when he heard a bolt of lightning hit awfully close around 4 p.m., according to Adams Fire Chief Paul “P.J.” Goyette. “There was a ground lightning strike somewhere in the vicinity that got its way into the house through the electrical system and into the attic,” Goyette said. The lightning hit hard enough to dislodge sheet rock from a ceiling in the home. Mendel, who was accompanied by his wife, daughter and two of his daughter’s friends, soon smelled smoke. He called Adams FireDepartment at 4:09 p.m. “We got the call at 4:09; we arrived at 4:12, and [ the fire] was under control by 4: 20,” Goyette said. “The guys got in there and made a very aggressive attack.” Twenty-three firefighters total went to the scene. Cheshire Fire Department covered the Adams station during the response. Goyette described the damage as “ minimal, probably under $ 1,000” and said it wouldn’t be necessary for the Mendels to find lodging elsewhere.
The storm in Adams on Saturday was relatively isolated to Northern Berkshire and lasted about 20 minutes.
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