NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Officials are investigating a Sunday morning fire that forced a family to flee their home..

 

The blaze at 76 Tyler was called into the Fire Department line at about 4 a.m. by a neighbor. 

 

"Lt. [John] Paciorek arrived on scene, he had fire on the porch" prompting him call everyone in, said Fire Chief Brent Levebfre. "The father was outside asking about his wife and kids, who were still inside, and they made entry through the rear door and kitchen to try and push the fire back on itself."

 

The family was evacuated from the building and take to Berkshire Medical Center's satellite emergency facility mostly as a precaution. Levebfre said he believed there was some smoke inhalation and a cut hand.

 

The fire progressed quickly through the windows on the porch — opening the rear door to get to the family created a chimney effect pulling the fire up and through the house, said the chief.

 

The building suffered fire and water damage but Lefebvre thought it largely superficial and that the structure — except the porch — appeared to have escaped severe damage. It would be a gut job to repair, he said.

 

The chief said firefighters had done a good job in getting the fire swiftly under control within about 20-30 minutes. Northern Berkshire EMS, North Adams Police and Wire & Alarm and Clarksburg also responded. A downed wire on a fire truck disrupted operations for a short period.

 

Lefebvre said it looks like the fire started on the porch but couldn't speak to the cause at this point. The state fire marshal had been called to assist with the investigation. The home is listed as being owned by Brittney Flynn and Arthur Schmidt.

 

Lefebvre has been in the top job for two months now after a dozen years on the department. 

 

"We're adjusting, we're doing good and I got a really great group of guys underneath me," he said. "My predecessor left me in a great spot."