NORTHAMPTON – At-large city councilor Ryan O’Donnell addressed a Ward 3 dumpster fire in a community update sent out Wednesday.
In the past, O’Donnell made a commitment to keep Ward 3 residents informed of fires in the community.
O’Donnell said the Northampton fire and police departments responded to report of smoke coming from a dumpster at 200 Bridge Street at 5:59 p.m. Tuesday.
Responders found no visible fire but did observe the smoke, he said. Firefighters extinguished smoldering items in the dumpster.
O’Donnell said it was determined that wooden furniture inside the dumpster was charged. The fire is currently under investigation and residents are asked to report any suspicious activity to Northampton police at 413-587-1100.
When, this year, a series of small fires began to occur in Ward 3, O’Donnell met with police and fire departments, the assistant district attorney and residents and said he’d keep the public informed of similar incidents.
“I certainly heard from a number of people who wanted to be updated,” he said. The fires are not cause for alarm, but for vigilance, O’Donnell said.
“When people have more information and they feel like the city is doing everything they can to give them that information, it makes them feel better to the extent they can about this,” he said of the fires.
Earlier this month, O’Donnell won an at-large council seat, leaving Ward 3 without a councilor. Resident Jim Nash is running unopposed for the seat.
“I’m doing my best to fill in and to continue to represent Ward 3,” O’Donnell said. “It’s my neighborhood, too.”
Sarah Crosby can be reached at scrosby@gazettenet.com.