COLRAIN — A family escaped injury Thursday evening after a second-alarm fire caused serious damage to their single-family home on Ed Clark Road.

At approximately 4:45 p.m., several area fire departments were dispatched to 38 Ed Clark Road. Upon arrival, Colrain Fire Chief Nicholas Anzuoni said firefighters confirmed the single-story home was on fire and struck a second alarm. He said the blaze, the cause of which is under investigation, resulted in heavy smoke damage and that “part of the building is a total loss,” but the house will need to be examined further to determine if it can be repaired.

“Because of the time of day and conditions we struck a second  alarm,” Anzuoni said at around 6:20 p.m., as firefighters were investigating hot spots around the house. “They’re trying to salvage as much as they can.”

Homeowners Adam Grandin and Meg McDonough said they were able to escape their home with their 21-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. They said the fire started in an attached shed and they were unable to put it out with a fire extinguisher.

The family was able to salvage some of their belongings from the house before firefighters arrived, and a neighbor helped them retrieve some items and offered them shelter while firefighters worked.

With the house located up a steep side road in Colrain, Anzuoni said firefighters were unable to get a ladder truck up to the scene. The homeowners’ vehicle was also parked in the driveway and the keys were in the house, preventing fire engines from getting closer, but Anzuoni noted that it probably didn’t make a difference in “the grand scheme of things.”

The response, however, was quick because Anzuoni said he and several other Colrain firefighters were already at the station doing some cleanup work. The quick strike of a second alarm also brought mutual aid to the scene, with firefighters from Charlemont, Heath, Shelburne, Erving, Buckland and Greenfield, as well as Halifax, Vermont, responding, among others. Utility crews were also able to turn off the power and propane to the house.

“Resources started flowing fast,” Anzuoni said.

The homeowners said the house is insured and they are staying in a hotel in Greenfield. They have relatives in the city, too.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081. Reach Paul Franz at pfranz@recorder.com or 413-930-4128.

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