[email protected]  (413) 268-7161  Station - 56 Main Street, Goshen MA  Mailing - P.O. Box 871, Goshen MA 01032

Extreme Temperatures Makes Work Brutal for Firefighters

ASHFIELD, MA – The Goshen Fire Department along with multiple fire companies in Hampshire and Franklin counties were called in to provide mutual aid to Ashfield today to help them battle a structure fire.

The picture above was taken shortly after Goshen firefighters arrived at 298 Briar Hill Road.  The fire appeared to have started in an upstairs bedroom of this log home.

With temperatures ranging from 0 to -10 below, firefighters dealt with difficult conditions ranging from frozen equipment and fingers to slippery road conditions from the amount of water that was being transported to and used at the scene.

The Rehab unit from the Department of Fire Services was sent to the scene to provide respite from the frigid temperatures firefighters encountered while battling the blaze.

The following departments responded to the call:

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

Chesterfield Fire
Cummington Fire
Goshen Fire
Highland Ambulance
Plainfield Fire
Williamsburg Fire
Worthington Fire

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Ashfield Fire
Buckland Fire
Charlemont Fire
Colrain Fire
Conway Fire
Gill Fire
Hawley Fire
Savoy Fire
Shelburne Fire
Shelburne Falls Fire
South Deerfield Fire

Many other departments not listed here also acted as backup to these fire companies by providing station coverage while we were on scene.

Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - The deck gun from Ashfield's engine pours water onto what was left of the home.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - Goshen Fire Captain Bob Labrie used the Department's K-12 saw to cut through the metal roof that once covered the front porch of the home. This allowed firefighters to extinguish flames that were burning beneath the structure.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - The collapsed porch roof of the home on Briar Hill Road had to be cut up into pieces in order to allow access to piles of burning debris beneath its metal roof.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - Goshen firefighter Bill Connell uses a little extra caution while walking on the fire ground due to slippery conditions that existed. Spray from the deck gun being used by Ashfield Fire coated everything it came in contact with to ice.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - Below zero temperatures caused moisture from my breath to freeze on the inside of the SCBA mask work while working at fire.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - Our faithful Honda generator kept the lights on throughout the operation.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - Steam rises from the basement of what's left of the structure.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - An ice covered trellis in the front yard of the home stands witness to the cold temperatures that firefighters worked in at the scene.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - The chimney was one of the only recognizable structures left standing after the fire.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - Looking through a window frame at complete destruction.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - A beam that used to hold the roof of the front porch frames the devastation caused by the fire.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - A view of the porch on the 'A' side of the building.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - The combination of below 0 temperatures and flowing water encased the porch furniture in a blanket of ice.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - Rays of light stream through smoke and steam from the fire.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - A view of the "A" side or front of the house.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - Icicles between the logs.
Fire
298 Briar Hill Road, Ashfield - A thick layer of ice covers a bench that was in the front yard of the home.
Fire

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