NORTHAMPTON — A fire broke out at approximately noon on Thursday, smoking workers out of a metal and wood fabrication studio located at 209 Locust St.
“This is an active fire, we have no idea how it started yet,” said Northampton Assistant Fire Chief Matt Lemberg at approximately 1 p.m. “It is still an active investigation.”
The property has a house at the front; in the back, there is a two-floor fabrication shop called East Branch Studio.
When the Gazette arrived at approximately 12:30 p.m., smoke was pouring out of the top floor of the shop as firefighters entered from the front and rear. At least five fire trucks arrived at the scene with many ambulances and police cruisers.
Lemberg said the fire appeared to start in the basement and no injuries were reported. The smoke subsided at about 1:30 p.m. as firefighters continued to enter the building.
“It’s so dark with the smoke, we can’t see anything in there,” Lemberg said.
Northampton Fire and EMS responded to the fire with mutual aid provided by neighboring communities including Easthampton and South Deerfield. First responders closed Locust Street, from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School to Straw Avenue, and Lemberg said the street would reopen when appropriate.
Tom Coughlin, a worker for East Branch Studio located on the building’s top floor, noticed smoke coming from the bottom floor and started going downstairs to check. He was quickly met by a cloud of smoke and dialed 911.
“I took the stairs that go downstairs but I just couldn’t see,” Coughlin said..
He said East Branch Studio manufactures wooden furniture, mainly cabinets. “There’s a lot of finished work in there that’s now gone.”