Published: 2/22/2022 1:31:05 PM
Modified: 2/22/2022 1:30:42 PM
DEERFIELD — Quick thinking with fire extinguishers snuffed out a fire before it caused major damage at Pioneer Gardens’ workshop at 425 Greenfield Road on Tuesday morning.
The call came in at around 11:18 a.m., when Pioneer Gardens’ owner, Jaap Molenaar, noticed smoke. He and a co-worker grabbed two fire extinguishers and were able to knock down a fire that had started in the building. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming out of the workshop’s doors and windows, but the flames had been quelled.
“It’s all good,” Molenaar said as firefighters took care of the remaining burning material. “I’m glad they came.”
Molenaar believes the fire started after a spark came off the drill press being used, but couldn’t definitively confirm it. Deerfield Fire District Capt. Ben Clark said he suspected the same thing.
Clark said thanked the mutual aid his crew received from the South Deerfield Fire District and the Greenfield Fire Department.
“It was a good, quick knockdown. … Luckily it was localized,” Clark said. “It was pretty much out when we got here.”
Clark noted this is a great example of the importance of having fire extinguishers.
“It always pays to have a fire extinguisher,” he said.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.