Pittsfield Fire Knocks Down Christmas Day Blaze

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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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DA's Office Clears Hinsdale Officer in Fatal Kauvil Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Biagio Kauvil, seen in this Instagram post, was armed and having a mental health crisis when police arrived at the scene. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The District Attorney's Office has determined that the police officer who fatally shot Biagio Kauvil during a mental health incident in January acted lawfully. 
 
On Tuesday, DA Timothy Shugrue held a press conference to announce the results of the investigation, concluding that Hinsdale Officer Jeffrey Spratt fatal shooting of the 27-year-old was a "lawful use of force and it was necessary to prevent imminent series deadly harm to himself or another." 
 
"While the findings were non-criminal, I find it imperative to state that while there will be no criminal charges, the force investigation team did find considerable, which I agree with, concern regarding policies and the Hinsdale Police Department," Shugrue said. 
 
"I strongly recommend that the town of Hinsdale hire an investigator that is completely independent to the agency in the town to conduct a formal review of their internal policies and their applications to the events of January 7." 
 
A March special town meeting in Hinsdale approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the Police Department. 
 
Just before 10 a.m. on Jan. 7, the Hinsdale Police Department responded to the Off South Street home for a well-being check and requested mutual aid from Dalton. At 10:58 a.m., there was a radio notification for a taser deployment, and about 15 seconds later, officers advised that shots were fired. 
 
Less than one minute later, police requested immediate ambulance response and began rendering aid.  Kauvil died after being shot in the head.
 
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