Multiple fire departments from surrounding towns responded to a reported structure fire in a single family home at 253 East Hill Road in Leyden on Thursday morning. Scanner reports had smoke coming from the eaves but the fire was quickly under control with fire units being released from the scene within an hour.
Multiple fire departments from surrounding towns responded to a reported structure fire in a single family home at 253 East Hill Road in Leyden on Thursday morning. Scanner reports had smoke coming from the eaves but the fire was quickly under control with fire units being released from the scene within an hour. Credit: Recorder Staff/Paul Franz

Recorder Staff

LEYDEN — A contractor installing internet service at 253 Hill Road drilled into a wall and hit a wire, sparking a fire Thursday morning, around 8:45.

The contractor “was very lucky he didn’t get electrocuted,” said Leyden Police Chief Dan Galvis.

Bernardston Fire Chief Peter Shedd said there was very little smoke damage, as the fire “just started to break through the sheet rock” of the wall.

The fire was quickly extinguished, with minor damage confined to one wall of the house, but several fire departments responded with tanker trucks, in case more water was needed if the fire had escalated. Responding fire departments included Leyden, Bernardston, Colrain, Greenfield and Shelburne Falls.

Electricity to the home was shut off until the electrical damage could be repaired.