WENDELL — Firefighters from eight departments responded to a structure fire at 382 Farley Road Saturday afternoon, saving the home from severe damage.
Homeowner Dennis Garbiel said he was traveling when the fire started, but that a passerby alerted his friend, who was in the house, that smoke was showing from the eaves. Garbiel called the fire department at around 12:20 p.m.
Firefighters from Wendell, Montague, Athol, Shutesbury, New Salem, Orange, Erving and Turners Falls responded and quickly got the fire under control. There were no injuries.
Garbiel said he suspected the fire began in the chimney, though Wendell and New Salem Fire Chief Joe Cuneo said the cause is under investigation.
“There’s nothing suspicious about it,” Cuneo noted.
The fire was contained to the chimney, the back wall and the attic. Firefighters worked to close up the back wall and make the house safe for Garbiel to continue living in.