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DEPARTMENT OF BUILDIIIG INSPECTIONS
INSPECTOR 212 Main Street ' Municipal Building
Northampton, Mass. 01060
82 Conz Street
September 29, 1996
Web Yarn
RE: Fire
At approx 3am on September 29 I was called to the scene by
Northampton Fire Department for a fire. I arrived at scene at 3 : 20
AM and called George Fournier Wiring Inspector to come to the
location because the cause of the fire seemed to be a electrical
short. Western Mass electrical was called to disconnect service
from the pole to the building. The building housed an wholesale
yarn business warehouse and small retail store. The building also
is adjacent to Northampton Ambulance service.One sprinkler head
discharged (165Degree) which was directly over service panels. I
left at 6: 20AM and returned at 12noon to secure the area where the
fire had occurred . Deputy Chief Passa met me at scene to go over
areas that were to be secured for the State fire Marshall. building
was secured , fire dept called state fire investigator, his arrival
was to be on Monday morning Sept 30. The area where service wiring
came into building as well as panels inside the building were
secured to allow investigation on Monday.
On Monday the state fire marshall determined that the fire was
caused by a electrical short caused by the wind driven rain which
entered the supply conduit on the exterior of building. A large
number of bees were found in the meter boxes indicating that there
was a opening which was not protected against the rain being driven
by high winds. Building was turned over at approx. 11: 30 Am
September 30.
Anthony Patillo
Building Commissioner
City of Northampton