The state fire marshal and police are investigating the cause of the blaze.

Commercial Street was closed for nearly three hours.

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Firefighters contained a blaze at 31 Commercial St. and rescued a man trapped on the second floor.

ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters saved a man from the second story of a burning apartment building Thursday night.

The four-unit building at 31 Commercial St. had heavy smoke and flame showing in the back when firefighters arrived, said Fire Chief Paul J. Goyette.

"I got to commend my guys and ladies for the job they did," he said. "The man was basically trapped on the second floor. We put a ladder up and got him out of there.

"It started to get pretty smokey."

All other tenants were evacuated from the building; Goyette did not know how many residents were in the building but said there seemed to be quite a few.

No one was being allowed back in the building that night.  

The cause of the fire was under investigation by Adams Police and the state fire marshal's office.

It apparently began outside on the first level in the back of the building, he said. "We had a pretty heavy fire on arrival but we were able to knock it down pretty quickly."

The department was dispatched at about 9:10 p.m. Officers and firefighters were still at scene at shortly before midnight.

"The operation went very well we had a good turnout," Goyette said. "We had a little trouble with the extension but we were able to knock it down.

"We're trying to get heat and electricity back to the place so it doesn't freeze up."

North Adams Fire Department was called to cover the station and a Cheshire engine company was requested to help spell firefighters working in the frigid cold.

North Adams Ambulance Service responded with the rehab trailer and Adams Ambulance was on scene as well.

The Department of Public Works was also on scene late sanding the icy street.

According to documents on file at the Registry of Deeds, 31 Commercial is owned by Guy Cariddi.

Commercial Street was closed for nearly three hours from the Center Street intersection.