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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Dalton Chief, 3 Firefighters Retire

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District's endeavor to keep interim Fire Chief Christopher Cachat on has ended — though it's not clear if that's permanent. 
 
In a Facebook post Thursday morning, the district announced that during an executive session on Tuesday, the Board of Water Commissioners met with and accepted the retirements of Cachat, Assistant Chief Michael Cachat, Safety Officer Barry Smith, and Safety Officer Steven Perry.
 
The decision comes following grumbling over the district's efforts to obtain state approval to keep Cachat on as a permanent chief position, a requirement given the state's mandatory retirement age for firefighters is 65. 
 
If approved, Cachat, who is currently 68, would serve as chief for about a year and a half, at which time the board will need to hire a new chief. 
 
Capt. Ryan Foley was promoted to interim chief and will be working in this position in a full-time capacity.
 
"The Commissioners, the Fire District, and the Fire Department want to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation for the decades of service from these four outstanding firemen," the district wrote in its post. 
 
"With over 100 years of service among them, their guidance and experience will be greatly missed, and we thank each of them for answering the call for so many years." 
 
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