James F. Louison Jr., 81, of 82 Lime St. succumbed to the flames just before 10, about the time an unidentified motorist noticed fire and smoke coming from Louison's detached garage, said Fire Chief Stephen Brown.
"The gentleman was removing paint from his garage door with a torch, and it is suspected that the torch was instrumental in catching his clothes on fire," said Brown, adding that there was minimal damage to the garage.
The motorist pulled his car in next door at 86 Lime St. to tell the neighbor, whom Brown said was related to Louison.
The neighbor tried to extinguish the garage blaze with a fire extinguisher and managed to quell some burning rags at the entrance. Brown said the man tried to enter but was pushed back by fire and smoke.
Louison's wife tried to do the same, Brown said. "She had attempted to enter the garage and was driven back by the smoke and the heat."
His wife's name was unavailable.
About two minutes after the first call was reported at 9:45 a.m., firefighters and police arrived on the scene, Brown said, and doused the flames shortly after arriving.
"They discovered the victim at the back of the garage, who had already succumbed to the products of combustion," he said.
State Fire Investigator Andrew Canata and members of the state police crime prevention and control team arrived later with the Berkshire County medical examiner, Brown said.
"There's an autopsy pending," he said.
Brown said Louison's death appeared to be accidental, although Canata will issue a determination after the autopsy is completed.
Louison was using a propane torch, which can be used for light soldering and for warming paint to be scraped for removal, Brown said. He was apparently using the torch to remove paint.
"People don't realize that in Massachusetts you need a permit from the fire department to do that," Brown said.
About 20 firefighters and four trucks from the Adams Fire Department covered the scene, which they cleared at 2:24 p.m.
