Pittsfield Fire Knocks Down Christmas Day Blaze

02:37PM / Monday, December 26, 2022Print Story | Email Story

A first-responder caught an image of the fire before the Fire Department got to the scene.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Christmas Day fire on East Mill Street displaced a family of five.

Deputy Chief Daniel Garner reported that the Fire Department was alerted to the blaze at 23 East Mill at 4:39 p.m. on Dec. 25. Firefighters found flames venting from windows on the first floor of the 2 1/2 story wood frame structure.

One crew conducted a primary search to ensure the three-unit building was evacuated while others worked to extinguish the fire in the first-floor kitchen. The fire was knocked down and under control within 20 minutes but the room sustained fire damage and the first floor smoke damage. Garner put the damage estimate as less than $2,000.

The cause of the fire was not yet determined and the family was being assisted by the Red Cross. There were no injuries reported.

Tags: structure fire,

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CBRSD Member Towns Will See Higher Assessments

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
02:43PM / Sunday, March 08, 2026

DALTON, Mass. — Despite budget cuts made by Central Berkshire Regional School District, its seven member towns can still anticipate higher assessments.

The district has decreased its initial operating projections from nearly 10 percent down to 4.9 percent. However, the town assessments range from increases of 7.3 percent to 15 percent.

Preliminary projections had the full budget at $40,284,107, however, it is now eyeing a significantly lower budget of $38,459,202.

Of the total $38.5 million budget, town assessments would cover 54.07 percent at $20,794,393; state aid would contribute $10,238,937, 26.62 percent; grant funds $2,353,097; revolving funds $2,338,645; state aid for transportation $1,246,797; an excess and deficiency appropriation $1,227,333, and local funds $260,000.

The project net town assessments are:

Becket for $2,948,432, an increase of 8.78 percent
Cummington for 684,628, an increase of 7.36 percent
Dalton for $10,702,857, an increase of 12.11 percent
Hinsdale for $3,412,948, an increase of 15.10 percent
Peru for $1,148,177, an increase of 12.42 percent
Washington for $861,996, an increase of 11.19 percent
Windsor for $1,035,355, an increase of 13.76 percent

The district is seeing the same decline in enrollment happening across the state, which is resulting in a decrease in Chapter 70 state aid.

That is somewhat stabilized as the district is now in the "held harmless" category, so for the first time the state is saying the district's need in aid for its students is less than what it got last year.

With the number of costs outside the district's control, even a zero percent increase would still result in higher town assessments.

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