COLRAIN — The state Department of Fire Services has determined a Colrain fire that badly damaged a single-family home last week started in a trash barrel, but has yet to determine a specific cause.

“They’re gauging between a couple of things,” said Colrain Fire Chief Nicholas Anzuoni. “They’ve got (the origin) within 2 feet, but they’re not exactly sure.”

At roughly 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 29, firefighters were dispatched to 38 Ed Clark Road for a blaze that caused significant fire, smoke and water damage to the home of Adam Grandin and Meg McDonough, who escaped with their children unharmed.

Grandin said he and his family are “humble, grateful and thankful” for the support they have received since the fire, including a GoFundMe that has raised $23,729 as of Tuesday afternoon. The GoFundMe can be found at bit.ly/3GeCYPY.

Anzuoni said he has not gone back to inspect the home, but it will be up to the building inspector to determine whether it is a total loss.

“It’s certainly not habitable, that’s for sure,” Anzuoni said. “It did sustain heavy damage. Hopefully they can salvage it.”

While parts of the exterior of the house were left standing, the interior, as well as many items and appliances within the home, suffered heavy smoke damage.

Due to the house’s location on a steep side road in Colrain, the Fire Department and its mutual aid partners were unable to get a ladder truck up to the scene and water had to be shuttled from the bottom of Wilson Hill Road. Once a water supply was established, firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire. Mutual aid partners included Shelburne Falls, Shelburne Center, Heath, Leyden, Charlemont, Buckland and Greenfield, as well as Vermont crews from Halifax and Whitingham, according to a Facebook post from the Colrain Firefighters’ Association.

The family is staying in a hotel in Greenfield. Grandin said both his and McDonough’s employers, Green Fields Market and Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, have provided them with paid time off and have brought meals and clothes for them. Their neighbors are also providing storage space for items the couple was able to salvage from their home.

In a Facebook post on Dec. 31, McDonough thanked community members for their continued support.

“Whether it’s been hours or years since we last spoke, you have reached out to offer support. Family, neighbors, people we’ve never met, all willing to step up. Community is no joke here in the hills — you guys know how to do it,” McDonough wrote.

“Thank you for holding my family in your love. The feeling is mutual. Community has made me optimistic about 2023. Onwards toward the new year. May we all take care of each other, every day. Times may be hard, but giving and receiving help is what creates community.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081. Paul Franz contributed reporting to this story.

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