Press Release  Harmony Street Fire Still Under Investigation but Does Not Appear Suspicious

ADAMS — The investigation into last month’s massive fire at a vacant mill building is still open, but local and state officials have found no evidence that it was intentionally set, said Adams Fire Chief John M. Pansecchi and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine.

Following their examination of the scene, Chief Pansecchi and code compliance officers from the Department of Fire Services identified several violations of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code. Specifically, they found that the property owner had violated several terms of a permit issued in 2019 by:

• Failing to install an approved lock box at the gate for fire department emergency access;
• Failing to seek a new permit when the building became occupied during unsanctioned work; and
• Failing to obtain a hot work permit for cutting and grinding metal operations within the structure.

Failing to abide by a permit issued by the local fire chief constitutes a violation of the Fire Code. In consultation with Chief Pansecchi, DFS code compliance officers issued three citations to Harmony Street LLC, each for $100. Having a state compliance officer issue the citations ensures that they will be available to testify at a hearing and/or appeal on the citations, Chief Pansecchi said.

The origin and cause of the fire are being investigated by the Adams Fire Department, Adams Police Department, and State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office. They determined that the fire began somewhere in the center of the structure, and while they have not yet reached a determination as to its cause they found no evidence that it was intentionally set.

In the course of their efforts, investigators learned of unsanctioned, unpermitted hot work being performed inside the building. This involved using oxy-acetylene torches to cut metal for scrap. Cutting, grinding, welding, and other hot work requires training, certification, and a permit from the local fire department because of the inherent fire hazard posed by sparks and slag.

The Adams Fire Department was dispatched to 10 Harmony Street shortly after 7:30 am on April 16 for a report of smoke coming from the building. The first responding personnel confirmed smoke and flames at the 237,000-square foot mill building and began requesting mutual aid and Northern Berkshire EMS to support local resources. In the minutes and hours that followed, the fire went to two alarms plus, drawing firefighters and apparatus from Pittsfield, Cheshire, North Adams, Lanesborough, Hinsdale, Dalton, Savoy, and Williamstown.

As the volume of smoke produced by the growing fire in a former industrial building prompted concerns about air quality in the area, two nearby schools were closed in an abundance of caution and residents with respiratory vulnerabilities were advised to shelter in place. Chief Pansecchi requested a DFS Hazmat team to monitor the air at various locations. Chemicals that had previously been stored at the site had been removed years ago, however, and technicians found no imminent hazards to first responders or the community.

Drone units from North Adams and the Department of Fire Services provided incident command with aerial imagery to support suppression operations. DFS also deployed a Rehab unit to support firefighter health and safety at the scene. Heavy machinery was requested to remove sections of the building that had collapsed or were unsafe. In total, firefighters were onscene for about 10 hours battling the blaze.

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