Fire Chief John Pansecchi, in white, talks strategy on Wednesday.
ADAMS, Mass. — At least eight fire companies responded to a Wednesday morning a structure fire in the old MacDermid Graphics building.
Firefighters and responders from Cheshire, Dalton, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Savoy, North Adams, Pittsfield, Williamstown. Hinsdale also sent its rehab bus and Northern Berkshire EMS was on the scene with its rehab trailer.
The fire was reported at about 7:30 a.m. and black smoke could be seen looming over the old mill building at 10 Harmony St. Harmony and Prospect streets were closed to traffic.
The Adams Police Department posted on Facebook that Hoosac Valley Elementary School and Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School classes were cancelled for Wednesday. The schools are located not far from the structure.
Their post also reads, "Children on the bus already for Hoosac Valley Elementary School will be brought to the middle school gym at Hoosac Valley High School."
"BArT was already in session and will be evacuating to the Adams Visitor Center."
Fire Chief John Pansecchi said firefighters are approaching the blaze by pouring water at it from every angle.
"We have a fire in the building, looks like we have a lot of fire in the building and we're trying to get to it," he said. "Places have already collapsed prior to the fire, place that have collapsed since the fire, so not a lot of activity inside the building."
The mill, the former W.R. Grace, is made up of a number two- and three-story structures covering about 236,749 square feet. The fire was located in a long building toward the back of the property that runs alongside the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. The roof was fully engulfed in flames and collapsed in on itself around by 8 a.m.
Trucks from Williamstown were being situated in the Russell Field parking lot and firefighters were trying to find a location where they could attack the blaze from the trail.
Pansecchi said the building is supposed to be vacant.
"I was working when the call came in," he said. "My guys did a great job getting set up putting some hose lines and being prepared and got some plans put together when I got here to extend that and that's what were looking at."
The cause of the blaze is unknown at this time but the state fire marshal was on the scene.
Pansecchi said firefighters are providing observations from the outside and the North Adams drone has been deployed to determine the extent of the blaze. The buildings are large and unsafe in most cases to enter.
"We're making good progress but we're not at a point I'd call it contained," he said. "There's already places that have caved in prior to this."
He's been joined by fire chiefs from the various departments, who have been aiding the attack from different fronts.
"It's a really big help [having them] because you've got so much going on fighting a fire you don't think of the other things," the Adams chief said. "They start making suggestions."
Some of the structures on the complex date to 1881, when Renfrew Manufacturing built to produce jacquard textiles. It was the last asset of the company, and its machines and inventory were stripped out in 1927.
The mill's had various owners and periods of vacancy over the last century, but was probably best known as W.R. Grace, a specialty chemical company that bought it as part of the acquisition of Dewey & Almy Chemical in the mid-1950s.
MacDermid took it over in 1999 but closed the plant three years later, putting 86 people out of work.
The property has been vacant since and was purchased by 10 Harmony Street LLC for $53,500 in 2019, according the online assessor's records. Principal of the LLC is listed as John D. Duquette Jr.
Staff writers and photographers Breanna Steele, Jack Guerino, Tammy Daniels and Marty Alvarez contributed to this article.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Letter: Christine Hoyt Best Choice for Adams Select Board on May 4
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor:
I am a proud resident of Adams, and it's clear that our town is moving in a positive direction. From the revitalization of the Adams Theater to the opening of the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center, we are seeing meaningful progress take shape.
Christine Hoyt has been a driving part of this momentum since 2017. During her time on the Select Board, she has worked to address critical priorities, such as infrastructure improvements (like the $6.5 million wastewater treatment upgrades), economic development, and the preservation of essential town services.
Re-electing Christine to a fourth term ensures continuity in this important work. Her role on the Local Government Advisory Commission (LGAC) enables her to advocate directly for Adams at the state level, helping secure general government aid, Chapter 90 funding, and support for public education. She also brings valuable leadership experience through her service as president of the Berkshire County Select Board Association, District 1 representative on both the Massachusetts Select Board Association and the Massachusetts Municipal Association Board of Directors, and her work with the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association. This level of experience and representation is an asset our town cannot afford to lose.
Christine has proven she has the vision and the work ethic to lead Adams for another three years. I hope you will join me in voting for her on Monday, May 4, and keep the momentum going.
The election will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Adams Memorial Building, 30 Columbia St.
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