CONWAY — A blaze destroyed a home at 617 Hoosac Road and resulted in the deaths of three pets on Saturday as firefighters from around the region descended on the property and prevented the fire from spreading into the surrounding woods.
Homeowners Kate Clayton-Jones and Tani Rivera and their 6-year-old child were uninjured as they were not home at the time. A neighbor reported the fire at approximately 11:46 a.m., according to Conway Fire Chief Bob Baker.
“You never think it’s going to happen to you,” Clayton-Jones said as she and Rivera sat on the grass and watched their home of nearly 20 years burn. “Thank God for my neighbors,” she added as firefighters were able to save a small apartment on the property.
Baker reported Sunday that two dogs and a cat perished in the fire, while two survived and were able to escape. Rivera said one of the dogs was in a crate when they left the house in the morning.
As crews battled the fire on Saturday, Baker said they had “no idea” how it started and that firefighters would be on the scene for several hours due to the construction of what he called a “double roof,” which prevented firefighters from easily snuffing out the fire.
“When we got here, it was fully involved,” Baker said at the scene as smoke still billowed out of the house at around 1 p.m. “We could be here for hours.”
As of Sunday afternoon, Baker said a representative from the Office of the State Fire Marshal was on scene in Conway trying to determine the fire’s cause.
The Greenfield, Ashfield, Shelburne, Charlemont, Sunderland, Colrain and Hatfield fire departments, along with both Deerfield fire districts, were among the numerous regional departments that responded for mutual aid.
Clayton-Jones said she did not know how the fire started either as there are so many common, everyday things that could start a fire.
“All of these things could catch fire,” Clayton-Jones said as she recalled her morning routine. “Then you get a phone call.”
The property is tucked in the woods off several side roads and has a long dirt driveway, which Baker said forced firefighters to “haul water from two-and-a-half miles away.”
Additionally, dry conditions caused several small brush fires around the property that crews were able to extinguish immediately to protect the surrounding woods and properties.
“Thank God it wasn’t very windy today,” Baker said as crews continued to spray the ground around the house to prevent further spread.
Although she and Rivera weren’t home when the fire started, Clayton-Jones said she was glad they were able to get home before the fire was put out. She also thanked the various departments that responded.
“This is going to sound weird,” she said, “but I would much rather arrive to my house in flames than to come home to a shell.”
Clayton-Jones said the house is insured and that her family may stay at the small apartment on the property for the time being. She added they also may stay with friends.
“I have really good friends and an amazing community,” Clayton-Jones said. A firefighter who checked in on her and Rivera asked if the Red Cross had been contacted, to which Clayton-Jones confirmed it had been.
Beyond the immediate needs of shelter, Clayton-Jones and Rivera said they need to figure out what their next steps are.
“I don’t really have a plan,” Clayton-Jones said. “It just went up in smoke.”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.