Recorder Staff
GREENFIELD — Fire broke out in the back of 20 Federal St. in downtown Greenfield around noon Monday.
About 30 minutes after a call went out about the fire, firefighters from Greenfield and Turners Falls fire departments could be seen removing the building’s back wall. The building houses Aliber’s Bridal Shop, Chet’s Barber Shop and Valley Tees, as well as lawyer’s office and Great Spirits Tattoo.
Greenfield Fire Chief Robert Strahan said the fire started in the rear wall of the building. Firefighters encountered smoke from the first floor of building of origin and the second floor and roof on arrival.
“Due to the size and construction of the wall, we went to a working fire and brought in mutual aid,” he said.
Firefighters had to cut through metal and plaster to open the wall and access the fire, which has been extinguished, Strahan said.
“It was a tremendous amount of work to open the wall,” he said.
Turners Falls Chief John Zellmann said the fire had started to make its way to the upper floors when firefighters caught it.
Parts of Federal, Main and School streets are closed, according to Greenfield Fire Chief Robert Strahan. A few buildings next to the fire were evacuated.
According to a Facebook announcement on Greenfield Fire Department’s public page, “Federal Street from Main Street to Church Street” was closed to allow firefighters space to work.
The post advises people to “please avoid this area if you can.”
Mutual aid was called in to help out from a few different local departments, including the South Deerfield, Deerfield, Brattleboro, Vt., and Turners Falls fire departments.
Firefighters responding to Federal Street pic.twitter.com/4AL1lWiP6d
— Tom Relihan (@RecorderTom) October 24, 2016