HEATH — Deirdre Gleason was driving home to 161 Colrain Stage Road with her boyfriend and two young children when she noticed a column of smoke.

“Oh my God, what’s going on?” she exclaimed.

Her home was not on fire, but the adjacent standalone studio apartment where her father lived was ablaze, with flames and smoke billowing up against a clear blue sky.

No one was home when the fire was reported by Gleason’s mother, Sarah Hettlinger, at around 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, so no injuries resulted. Hettlinger lives across the street at Mohawk Estates.

Six area fire departments joined the Heath Fire Department to battle the blaze at the single-story wood structure, dragging hoses through more than 1 foot of snow. The fire, which burned into the attic, proved difficult to reach while firefighters worked outside.

The building was recently converted from a pottery studio into a living space, and was the home of 80-year-old James Gleason. The younger Gleason, who owns the property with her father, said the main house was insured but she was unsure if the outbuildings would be covered. Besides the structure where her father lived, there is also a small recording studio and a garage within a few feet of each other.

Colrain Deputy Chief Kevin Worden II said that when firefighters arrived there were flames coming out of the roof, but damage was contained to the studio apartment with no extension into the other outbuildings or main house. He added that firefighters had a good water supply, with tanker trucks picking up water at the Davenport Brook Reservoir. The cause of the fire was unknown as of press time.

Besides Heath, responding departments included Colrain, Charlemont, Buckland, Greenfield and Shelburne Falls, as well as Whitingham, Vermont. Colrain Ambulance also responded.

Reach Paul Franz at pfranz@recorder.com or 413-930-4128.

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