In a social media post, Hamilton fire said they were battling a 'large commercial fire' on the east Mountain and that residents should close windows due to travelling smoke.
In a social media post, Hamilton fire said they were battling a ‘large commercial fire’ on the east Mountain and that residents should close windows due to travelling smoke.
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The wildland fire that burned around a thousand acres of land in Northern Berkshire County last week is almost fully contained. The East Mountain Fire was the largest of its kind in Massachusetts in more than two decades. Scores of firefighters from around the region as well as state units battled the fire as it moved east from Williamstown to Clarksburg. Chief Forest Fire Warden for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Dave Celino says it hasn’t grown since last weekend. WAMC spoke with Celino about the historic nature of the East Mountain Fire, and what it says about the potential for future wildland fires in Berkshire County.
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The historically large East Mountain Fire is approaching full containment in Northern Berkshire County, but it meant a tense weekend for locals on the fringes of the fire.
It’s taken days of hard work, dozens of agencies, scores of firefighters and almost a thousand acres of burned land for the East Mountain Fire to approach containment. While no structures have been impacted by the flames, area residents like Stephen Murray were faced with daunting choices as the fire expanded from Williamstown east over the weekend.
“Our house is sort of right on the border between North Adams and Williamstown along Massachusetts Avenue, said Murray. It s a parallel road to route two, which goes East-West, and lies right at the base of the Pine Cobble Mountain, which everybody is familiar with who lives around here. It s a really popular hiking spot. And you can actually walk right out my backyard and head right up to the top of mountain from there.”