NORTH ADAMS â Francis Levesque was near the top of Pine Cobble, taking a break from fighting the stateâs largest fire in more than two decades, when he heard a bleating sound.
The Savoy volunteer firefighter left his crewmates, just a handful of the 120 firefighters trying to contain the massive wildland fire on Monday, and followed the noise through the woods to a lone fawn.
He could tell almost immediately that the creature was in trouble.
âShe was severely dehydrated,â he said. âYou could tell by the skin elasticity, and her ears were folded back.â
Levesque, who runs RAM Electrical Services in Adams, has volunteered with the Savoy Fire Department for three years now. And he has spent his whole life taking care of animals, he told The Eagle, including sheep, goats and âevery kind of poultry you can imagine,â which he raises with his wife.
Williamstown Forestry
The state Bureau of Fire Control, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts National Guard, and the National Park Service are all also assisting.
Courtesy of Nick Mantello
The Appalachian Trail is being impacted by the fire and hikers are asked to stay clear of the area for their own health and safety.
Also, there has been a wonderful outpouring from the local communities in bringing food and water, coffee, snacks, and such to the firefighters.
Courtesy of Nick Mantello
In a press release put out yesterday at 4:30 p.m.about the East Mountain Fire, Williamstown Fire Chief Craig A. Pedercini, State Fire Warden David Celino and North Adams Mayor Thomas W. Bernard provided an update on the “East Mountain” fire in the Clarksburg State Forest this afternoon.
SAVOY â A working smoke detector saved the life of a family of five early Thursday morning.
Savoy Fire Department spokesman Eddie Bain said the residents of an apartment in the 400 block of Paddock Drive West were awakened about 7 a.m. by the screeching sound.
âThey had to come downstairs right past where the kitchen is, and in a few moments, they wouldnât have not been able to get out that way,â Bain said. âFlames were headed that way.â
The two adults did not have a phone within reach and took their three children to a neighborâs to call for help.