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Massachusetts officials say an ongoing wildland fire in Northern Berkshire County is the state’s largest in over a decade.
The East Mountain Fire began as a brushfire in Williamstown on Friday, and has spread thanks to wind events over into the Clarksburg State Forest. More than 120 firefighters from 19 surrounding towns and state units are attempting to contain it. Williamstown Fire Chief Craig Pedercini spoke Monday afternoon.
“I can report at this point we ve burned about 800 acres and we are 60% contained at this time, he said. No structures are threatened by the fire. One firefighter was taken to the hospital over the weekend. He s in good condition and remains hospitalized this time. Today the Mass National Guards and the Massachusetts State Police were conducting, are conducting air operations including water drops to help contain a fire.”
Largest brush fire in more than a decade scorches Western Massachusetts; More than 120 firefighters battling the fire
Updated 2:50 PM;
An 800-acre (324-hectare) brush fire in western Massachusetts that started late last week is thought to be the largest in the state in more than a decade, a state official said Monday.
The East Mountain fire in the Clarksburg State Forest that started Friday is 60% contained, Williamstown Fire Chief Craig Pedercini, state Fire Warden David Celino and North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard said in an emailed statement.
Celino said he believed the fire was the largest in the state in 12 years, according to The Berkshire Eagle.
East Mountain Wildland Fire 60 Percent Contained iberkshires.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from iberkshires.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In addition to the call-volunteer firefighters from the Williamstown Fire District and Forest Warden and their brethren from departments throughout the region, plenty of civilians stepped up to do what they could to. I m in my 19th year, and we ve had a few forest fires, brush fires, and I gotta say this is probably the largest response we ve had from our community as a whole, Williamstown Fire Chief Craig Pedercini said on Saturday afternoon. The whole thing the food, the drinks, everything, you name it. I know Andi Bryant did a good job putting the message out [on Facebook], and all of a sudden, people just wanted to help. So, it s awesome.
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Chiefs from various departments including North Adams Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre, left, Williamstown Forest Fire Warden Rick Daniels, third from left, and Williamstown Fire Chief Craig Pedercini, fourth from right, work at the command center at the Williamstown Sportsman s Club on Henderson Road.
GILLIAN JONES â THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
A section of woods still smolders on Saturday after a brush fire broke out in Williamstown. Firefighters are still battling the blaze for a third day Sunday.
GILLIAN JONES â THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
A section of forest where the fire was extinguished and the path used by firefighters to get up the mountain by all-terrain vehicles is pictured on Saturday.