Alpine Commons Fire

Smoke could be seen from a long way off

Smoke and fire billowed from the roof

Engine 2, the quint, was quickly on scene

Firefighters from Hadley, Pelham, Northampton, South Hadley, Belchertown and South County Ambulance joined every available member of AFD including the Call Force to go toe to toe with a stubborn fire that wreaked havoc on an 8 unit apartment building, but fortunately not finding human flesh to consume.

 West side where fire originated

Although at least one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion due to hot muggy weather, and performing strenuous activity in heavy turn out gear.

 Turnout gear is especially hot on a day like today

 Hot, demanding, dangerous work

The fire apparently started around 1:30 PM at the far western end of the building but managed to make it all the way to the far east end via the attic, the Achilles heel of circa mid-1970s or 1980s construction. 

AFD E2 left Hadley Ladder right

Amherst Engine 2, an aerial which can throw up to 1,000 gallons per minute from the top of her 75 foot ladder and Hadley's Ladder Truck with slightly better capabilities took up positions at each end of the building and unleashed water as though it were Niagara Falls.



But The Beast was having none of that and continued to consume the wooden two story building at a ravenous rate. 

The opposite end of the building from where the fire first started

After just over four hours of pitched battle, by 6:00 PM, The Beast was put down.

 The building will be uninhabitable for a long, long time (if indeed it's salvageable)

The Outrage Grows

 

Amilcar Shabazz, formerly Amherst School Committee & former Chair Equity Task Force

The chorus of outrage over the treatment of Aisha Hiza, a black single mom standing up for her bullied daughter only to be hit with an all-school property stay away order over ten weeks ago, are now reaching a deafening peak.

On his Facebook page Amilcar Shabazz, UMass Faculty Advisor for Diversity & Excellence, issued a stern statement to Amherst and Pelham officials that will be hard to ignore.

More like impossible.

 Click to enlarge/read

Safety Violations Found Amity Street Fire

219 Amity Street:  Tragedy avoided, barely

Normally I use public documents to back up my fiery rhetoric. But in this case I don't really have to.

I will let Amherst Inspection Services report sent to absentee owner Jamie Cherewatti speak for itself.

Loudly.

   219 Amity Fire Inspection Report

Click on headline '219 Amity Street Fire Inspection Report' to go to Scribd to better read document

Preventable Deaths = Priceless

11 Phillips Street

Any good fire prevention expert will tell you the best way to prevent fire related deaths is not to let The Beast form in the first place.  And nothing is better at accomplishing that then a sprinkler system.

Number two on the list is an early warning system that allows notification to residents to get out of the structure as quickly as possible i.e. smoke or heat detectors as well as simultaneously sending notification to a professional alarm monitoring company.  

But those detectors are worthless if they have been purposely disabled or simply not maintained properly, like changing the battery every year.

Take 11 Phillips Street -- and I wish somebody with eminent domain powers would take that entire street -- for instance:   In Eastern Hampshire District Court last week Fire Prevention Officer Mike Roy won yet another "disabling a smoke detector" case.

 Click to enlarge/read

While an $800 fine may seem steep for Mr. Weiner had AFD pressed to keep the mater criminal he would could have served up to two years in jail because the charge is a felony.

Instead, in a Clerk Magistrate Hearing, he was found "responsible" but as long as he abides by the four conditions the matter will be dismissed in November.

 Terms of settlement written up by his lawyer

And since he is one of only four who supposedly lives at 11 Phillips (but notice he identified himself as a "Fraternity Vice President ... hmmm) and rent is a whopping $4,800 per month, I think he -- or his Fraternity -- can well afford the fine. 

Beats being dead.

APD Community Liaison officer Bill Laramee (left) and absentee property owner Stephan Gharabegian this morning at 45 Phillips Street after first meeting at 11 Phillips Street

 AFD Fire Prevention Officer Mike Roy files complaint with Eastern Hampshire District Court on 4/26

Charter Jitters KO Ms. Capriola

Maria Capriola dropped out after being chosen new Town Manager

As I figured the main reason Maria Capriola dropped out at the last minute for relocating to Amherst as our new Town Manager from her current home and position as Assistant Town Manager in Mansfield, Connecticut was Charter Commission related.

   Amherst new Town Mgr Executive Sessions

Uprooting your family and moving out of state to a job that could be replaced in two years by a Mayor is a pretty big risk. And she doesn't look like the high risk type to me.

In the new Town Manager contract signed last night with Paul Bockelman he is guaranteed six months salary if his job is terminated by a change in government or he can stay on for that last year at full salary but will no longer be the top dog.

 Click to enlarge/read

Of course at that point you probably have a new Mayor making less money than Mr. Bockelman, which may strain their relationship a tad.

Two Sides To Every Story

Peter Hechenbleikner and Alisa Brewer at last night's SB meeting

At last night's Select Board meeting, after confirming a new Town Manager, Chair Alisa Brewer brought up the school issue that has caused consternation over the past ten weeks and has now grown into a full fledged public relations nightmare.

School Committee member Vira Douangmany Cage issued Amherst and Pelham officials a vitriolic statement urging them to address the Aisha Hiza school stay away order as a social justice issue.  And to remain silent is to endorse the injustice.

After a brief discussion the board asked Temporary Town Manager Pete Hechenbleikner to write up a response for their June 6th meeting although Ms. Brewer seemed to suggest a resolution of the matter may happen before then.

In response Mr. Hechenbleikner said, "Select Board is not privy to a lot of the details.  If social injustice is being done then silence is not appropriate.  I know more than the Select Board, and there’s no social injustice being done."

Aisha Hiza begs to differ:

Click to enlarge/read

School Committee Coup D'etat?

Trevor Baptiste (right), Superintendent Maria Geryk (left)

The first half hour of last week's Regional School Committee meeting was taken up by an attempt to "reorganize" the Committee i.e. vote in a new chair, coincidentally enough to replace one who is on Maria Geryk's enemies list.

During Public Comment at the RSC April 12 meeting Mr. Baptiste allowed friends, supporters and fellow ARHS grads to read a letter decrying Aisha Hiza's ban from all Regional school grounds for advocating on behalf of her bullied child.

Some members and school officials thought it was out of order since the incident originated at Pelham Elementary School which is not part of the Region and therefor beyond the purview of the Regional Committee.

Geryk started the meeting as Chair and immediately wished for them to "reorganize."   Chair Trevor Baptiste was having none of it and the bickering began.

Geryk was relying on a previous tradition where the Region would reorganize after local town elections as well as state law that says committees must do so within ten days of said elections, which happened more than a month ago.

But Baptiste pointed out that law does not apply because the Regional Committee is not elected they are appointed by the local school committees and his town, Pelham, has yet to appoint one of their members to the Region.

Amherst School Committee Chair (and automatic member of the Region) Katherine Appy pressed for the reorganization although she told Mr. Baptiste it was nothing personal.  

Interestingly at yesterday's Joint Capital Planning Committee meeting, composed of two members each from the Finance Committee, Select Board, Library and School Committee, one School Committee member was MIA.

 Joint Capital Planning Committee yesterday (minus one School Committee member)

Ms. Appy told the JCPC that Rick Hood had not run for reelection in the March 29 election and the School Committee (which has met twice since then) has not yet appointed one of their own to replace him on the JCPC.

With neither side seeming to budge a compromise motion was made and approved to have the Regional School Committee reorganization take place at their June 14th meeting, and by then Pelham would have appointed a member to the Region.

I'll be bringing popcorn to that meeting (and a fire extinguisher).