Cause of massive fire at Strathmore Mill in Russell suspicious: Reward offered

RUSSELL – The cause of a fire in a vacant mill that burned for more than 12 hours is suspicious and investigators are offering a reward for information that helps identify the person or people who set it.

The fire was reported at about 8:30 p.m., Friday, at the former Strathmore Paper complex and destroyed Mill Number Two. More than 125 firefighters responded to help extinguish the massive fire on 34 Valley View Avenue that blanketed Westfield, Russell and other surrounding communities in smoke.

“Investigators are asking for the public’s help with the large fire in a vacant mill,” said Jennifer Mieth, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Fire Marshal’s office. “The fire is considered suspicious.”

The fire is being investigated by Russell Fire and Police detectives and the State Police assigned to the Officer of the State Fire Marshal. Other agencies are also involved in the probe, she said.

Investigators are offering rewards of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the case being solved. The money is provided through the Arson Watch Reward Program funded by property and casualty insurance companies, Mieth said.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Arson Hotline at 800-682-9229. All calls are confidential. Investigators are also interested in seeing any relevant video or photos, she said.

Russell Fire Chief Niles LaValley said first responders found heavy flames coming from a part of the building where rolls of paper, left from when the plant was operational, were stored and became fuel for the fire. They called for mutual assistance from fire departments as far away as New York and Ware.

Fighting the massive fire was further complicated by the fact firefighters had to truck in water to try to douse flames.

The plant shut down about 20 years ago and the town sold it at auction last year after members of the Select Board said they were concerned about the liability of owning such a large, vacant building.

Pittsfield developer Jacob Trudeau bought the 233,000 square-foot complex and 34 acres of property for $15,000 at a tax auction. At the time he said he had no concrete plans for its use.

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