Five Alarm fire heavily damages historic Elmwood Estates

On Saturday, May 14th at approximately 12:36 P.M., a full assignment was dispatched for a reported fire in a partition wall at 151-153 Bartlett Avenue. This 22 unit, three story apartment building was originally built in 1853, and was long called "Elmwood." The mansion was home to two generations of the Learned family for over eighty years, Miss Halls School, an Inn and now apartments. With this long history came extensive renovations to the 125ft X 100ft building, which would eventually severely hamper firefighters efforts to bring this fire under control. First arriving company Engine 3, led by Captian Terrance Andrus, found a smoke condition throughout the building and alarms sounding within, but no visible fire. Several lines were advanced into the buildings first and second floor and eventually the basement to extinguish fire above a water heater. Car 2, Engine 6, Engine 1 and Tower One were also part of the first alarm. Once firefighters made it to the second floor and began opening walls, it quickly became aparent the type of old construction and large void spaces they were dealing with. Fire was spreading quickly, upward and outward in all directions, eventually overtaking the entire attic space. Command immediately struck a second alarm.
All interior operations were switched to defensive when Officers discovered the extent of the fires progress and that there was not enough manpower to safely fight the fire from inside. Command called for a General Alarm a short time later due to the size of the building and the amount of manpower and resources that would be needed to successfully mitigate this fast spreading fire. Engines 5 and 2 arrived on the second alarm and eventually Truck 2, Squad 3 and apparatus and manpower from Dalton, Lanesboro, and Hinsdale. Lenox, Cheshire, Adams and Richmond Fire Departments manned stations with PFD members throughout the City throughout. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services responded with their Incident Support Unit, well as personnel from MEMA, The Berkshire County Sheriffs Department and the local American Red Cross.

The fire was fought for over seven hours before being completely extinguished. A total of 45 residents were displaced from the fire, all given aid from the Red Cross and the property owner Cavalier Management. No injuries were reported to any residents or fire personnel. Fire Investigators completed a full investigation into the cause and origin of the blaze, determined to be from overheated electrical wiring.