WHATELY — A fire broke out at the Rainbow Motel on State Road just after midnight, prompting a large-scale response from fire departments across ten neighboring communities.
The Whately Fire Department, alongside mutual aid fire companies, rushed to the scene following a report of the blaze.
Upon arrival, Whately Police described the motel as a “fully involved structure.” Officials then called a second alarm, increasing the number of units responding to the emergency.
All motel occupants were evacuated safely, and there were no reported injuries among civilians or firefighters.
Due to the intensity of the flames, firefighters employed a defensive strategy to contain the fire.
They used hand lines, ground monitors, and two aerial ladders to prevent the fire from spreading beyond 10 of the motel’s 16 units.
A total of 18 fire units attended the scene, while an additional four units provided regional station coverage.
The incident left 17 Rainbow Motel occupants without a place to stay.
Local aid groups and emergency services, including the Red Cross and the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, are assisting those displaced.
Authorities are grateful for the support from multiple agencies, including South Deerfield, Hatfield, Conway, Northampton, Deerfield, Williamsburg, Montague Center, Turners Falls, Greenfield, Hadley, Northfield, Bernardston, Erving, and the South County Ambulance.
Special thanks were given to State Fire Marshal Davine, the Department of Fire Services Special Operations Units, fire investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Franklin County Triad.
Chief Kennedy of the Whately Fire Department has asked the community to keep the Patel family and all other displaced residents in their thoughts as they navigate through the aftermath of the fire.
