ATHOL — Athol Fire Chief Joseph Guarnera and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said the cause of the January 11, 2019 fire at 275 Cottage St. is undetermined after investigation, but the focus is on either the woodstove or improper disposal of smoking materials. One dog perished in the fire.
Investigators determined that the fire started on the second floor of the office building that had a makeshift living area. The two possible causes of fire in that area were a wood stove and the improper disposal of smoking materials. There was no evidence that the fire was intentionally set. The building collapse made it structurally unsafe for an extensive fire scene examination.
Fire investigators first determine the point of origin of a fire and then its cause. Once they are able to determine where the fire started, they rely on witness statements to identify the possible sources of ignition. Investigators then compare the witness statements to the evidence found in the forensic scene examination to determine the cause of the fire. They systematically eliminate each possible cause, until there is only one most probable cause left. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 921 for fire investigation requires investigators to leave a fire “undetermined” if they are not able to eliminate all but one possible cause.
The building, used for storage, was one of a three-building complex previously occupied by the Boston Filter Company and prior to that, the Athol Comb Shop.
A second alarm was struck due to the proximity of a neighbor’s house on the left side and wood structures facing two other sides of the burning building. Nearly 40 personnel from the Orange, Phillipson, Royalston, Petersham, Gardner, Barre, Erving, Winchendon, Turners Falls, Templeton, Hubbardston, and Westminster fire departments assisted.
Deputy Chief Jeffrey Parker had said the working conditions were cold, windy and occasionally snowy, and difficult to work in with water coming out of the trucks and hoses creating icy conditions. The Department of Public Works was called to the scene to sand the road surfaces. No firefighters were injured.
The building, occasionally used, was not occupied at the time. The fire, contained to the building of origin with some minimal exterior damage to the home at 281 Cottage St. Equipment was brought in to knock down the burned structure because it was leaning into the driveway of the neighbor.