Ashfield brush fire ends with loss of woodshed; home and garage saved

ASHFIELD — High winds and dry air contributed to brush fires that popped up in Ashfield, Conway and Montague on Tuesday afternoon.

In Ashfield, a brush fire that was likely caused by a downed power line ended with the loss of a woodshed at 174 John Ford Road.

According to First Capt. Colleen Walker of the Ashfield Fire Department, the fire is believed to have started after a falling tree branch knocked down a power line, which started sparking. Due to high wind, the fire spread about 1.3 acres from where the power line fell near the end of the property to an outbuilding containing firewood that was located next to the house and garage. This woodshed burned down, though a second shed was spared.

No one was injured in the fire and the homeowners were not home at the time. Ashfield resident Galen Knowles has been watching the property for owners Paul Lacinski and Amy Klippenstein while they are out of town.

“[Lacinski and Klippenstein] had one rule: don’t burn the house down,” Knowles said.

According to Walker, the fire was reported to dispatchers just before 2 p.m. and “about a dozen” departments responded to provide mutual aid. Walker said that brush trucks, tankers and utility terrain vehicles (UTV) were used to quell the flames. Crews were working for about an hour before the fire was extinguished.

Neighbor Jane Kaufman recounted seeing smoke come through her yard. She said she also saw a yellow reflection on the solar panels on the property.

Knowles said he was advised to stay at 174 John Ford Road for the night and check outside every few hours to see if he sees smoke.

While responding to the fire in Ashfield, Conway Fire Chief Christopher Herrmann received a call at around 3:15 p.m. regarding a similar brush fire along Reeds Bridge Road in Conway, also caused by a falling tree knocking down power lines.

“It ended up being a small area,” he said, with the fire burning an acre of land.

Herrmann added that the fire did not reach any nearby homes or lead to any injuries.

The Deerfield, Greenfield and Buckland fire departments also responded to Conway. Herrmann and other Conway firefighters were on scene for about three hours, keeping an eye on the hot spots to prevent rekindling.

“With high winds and the dry ground, it’s easy to have a fire,” Herrmann explained.

Then, at about 5 p.m. in Montague, firefighters from six departments and the state Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry responded to a 1-acre brush fire along Federal Street that was threatening a home, according to the Montague Center Fire Department.

Luke Hartnett, chief of both the Turners Falls and Montague Center fire departments, said on Wednesday morning that, while an exact cause hasn’t been established, the brush fire may have been caused by a cigarette butt having been thrown from a passing vehicle, or by tree branches falling on wires.

The fire was extinguished with no injuries and no damage to the home on Federal Street, except for one birdhouse.

Hartnett reminds the public that discarding cigarette butts outside is dangerous due to the risk of causing a fire and it’s illegal as it’s considered littering. He also said residents should be mindful of using power tools outside that could cause a spark, and people should always monitor and fully extinguish any outdoor burning.

Aalianna Marietta and Erin-Leigh Hoffman contributed reporting.