GREENFIELD — A passerby who noticed smoke and a quick response by the Greenfield Fire Department on Monday afternoon limited damage to the Kostanski Funeral Home on Federal Street to the third floor.
At around 12:30 p.m., a woman banged on the front door of the three-story Victorian-style edifice alerting Office Manager Mary Brodeur of the situation. Brodeur said she then called 911. She and co-owner Bill Kostanski, who were the only people in the business at the time, exited the building.
Greenfield Fire Chief Robert Strahan said the fire — the cause of which is under investigation — was contained to a third-story room facing Federal Street, with the contents of the room burning and with some extension into the surrounding walls and ceiling. The upper two floors of the Victorian-style house built in 1878 are used as a residence for two people who were not home at the time.
Teams of firefighters tore into the walls and ceiling to extinguish hotspots and then used thermal imaging devices to look for further fire extension, Strahan explained. Two hoses wended their way up the main staircase and a second narrow staircase to deliver water from pumpers.
According to Strahan, the first and second floors sustained water damage, though firefighters used tarps to protect as much property as possible.
After Greenfield firefighters arrived, mutual aid was called in from Turners Falls, Bernardston and South Deerfield, with the Deerfield Fire Department covering the Greenfield Fire Station and the Orange Fire Department covering for Turners Falls. AMR ambulance also responded, as did Berkshire Gas and Eversource to shut off gas and electricity to the building. Building, health and electrical inspectors were on scene.
A portion of Federal Street was temporarily closed while firefighters responded.
Reach Paul Franz at 413-772-0261, ext. 266 or pfranz@recorder.com.
