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Authorities Investigating Lake Onota Village Fire That Killed Three
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Authorities are investigating a fire Saturday morning that left three people dead.
Two people were found outside the structure in Lake Onota Village and taken to Berkshire Medical Center with nonlife-threatening injuries. Three others were inside the structure when firefighters arrived at the scene at about 3:40 a.m. on Saturday.
In a brief press conference at about 10 a.m., Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington said, "there is no indication the fire is suspicious at this time."
The identities of the victims are being withheld until next of kin can be notified.
Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said firefighters arrived at the scene within 5 minutes of the call.
The home was heavily damaged and a nearby residence had some radiant heat damage to its siding.
"There is one hydrant here, this is a private development off of the city's main water system," he said. "We did develop some water problems in our initial attack so we did ask for assistance from Lanesborough and Richmond fire departments to send a couple of tankers for supplemental water."
Lake Onota Village is a 131-lot mobile home community off Valentine Road that is owned by M.H.Communities.
Harrington and Czerwinski were joined by Police Chief Michael Wynn, First Assistant District Attorney Karen Bell, Mayor Linda Tyer and State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. None of these individuals spoke.
The investigation is being conducted by the Pittsfield Fire and Police departments, members of the State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and detectives from the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire district attorney's office.
