NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Two people were found dead in Monday morning's fire on Francis Avenue.
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office on Monday afternoon confirmed that firefighters had entered the single-family home to search for occupants and found the two already deceased. No other individuals were located inside the residence.
The names of the fire victims are being withheld until notification of next of kin. The DA's Office stated that an update would be released once that is done.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of their deaths. The North Adams Police and State Police investigators from the State Fire Marshal and DA's office responded to the scene.
According to an earlier statement from the Fire Department, the fire was reported about 7:11 a.m. Scanner reports said smoke was coming from the roof and out the doors, and that individuals may have been inside.
The home is on a hillside and firefighters entered through the basement access to attack the fire and search for occupants.
The blaze was contained to the single-family home near the intersection with Hooker Street.
Northern Berkshire EMS was called to the scene and Clarksburg was called to cover the station.
By 9 a.m., the fire was out, but police, fire and EMS were on the scene, which was cordoned off with yellow tape. Hooker Street was also closed off.
According to the department, "emergency response agencies will remain on scene for an extended period for overhaul, investigation, and safety operations. The public is urged to avoid the area to allow emergency crews to work safely and efficiently. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available."
Original post at 9:50 a.m., Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
North Adams Library Friends Receive $25K Bequest From Late Paul Gaudreau
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Friends of the North Adams Public Library was gifted $25,000 by the late Paul Gaudreau.
The Drury High graduate had great respect for the library and its service to the city, said his good friend Richard Taskin, and had entrusted him with the check before his death on Sunday at the age of 64.
"He understands the importance of the library as a crown jewel of our city. And he loved this city and he loved this country," said Taskin, a library trustee. "He was in the National Guard. He was concerned about his city. He was concerned about his country. ...
"He read a newspaper every single day of his life and cared about public affairs."
Taskin presented the check to Friends President Bonnie Rennell on Thursday evening at the end of the trustees' meeting.
Gaudreau was a youth sports coach, and had retired from Williams College. He had already donated CDs to the library and had enjoyed seeing Jeff Tweedy of Wilco perform at the library. Taskin said Gaudreau was one of the hardest working people he'd ever known and, his voice breaking, his fantasy baseball partner.
He'd first passed the check to Chair Sarah Farnsworth, who gasped "oh my" when she read the amount.
The Drury High graduate had great respect for the library and its service to the city, said his good friend Richard Taskin, and had entrusted him with the check before his death on Sunday at the age of 64.
click for more
The "Into Light" exhibit is sketching a new path toward transforming the conversation around addiction — one portrait and story at a time. click for more
Adan Wicks scored 38 points, and the eighth-seeded Hoosac Valley basketball team Saturday rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit to earn a 76-67 win over top-seeded Drury in the Division 5 State Quarter-Finals. click for more