Whately Fire Chief Says Car Fire “Could Have Been Avoided”

By JULIE CUNNINGHAM and CHRIS COLLINS

Photo by Whately Fire

(Whately, MA) — A fully involved car fire in Whately earlier this week could have been avoided. That from Whately Fire Chief John Hannum, who said the fire at 100 Haydenville Road was triggered when two individuals stripping down the car decided to drill a hole into the gas tank. Hannum said the spark from the drill ignited what turned out to be a fast-moving fire which took several minutes to contain and damaged at least two cars in the area.