Pittsfield Firefighters Extinguish Two Fires

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters responded to two structure fires Saturday, Jan. 22 within the same hour.
 
Firefighters first responded to a call on 38 Beacon Ave to check a previous fire around 8 pm.
 
Firefighters were brought into the basement by the homeowner where they encountered smoldering wood joists, due to someone trying to thaw frozen pipes earlier that day.
 
Engine 5 requested a full assignment which included a command vehicle, 3 engines, and a Ladder Co.
 
It was determined that the fire had traveled up the interior wall into the attic of the home. It took firefighters approximately 45 minutes to bring the fire under control.
 
The cause was determined to be accidental.
 
The home suffered smoke, fire, and water damage but remained habitable. There were no injuries.
 
At 8:30 pm firefighters were dispatched to a 16 Harold St. kitchen fire. Upon arrival crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the first floor of the two-story home.
 
Dalton and Lenox Fire Departments were called because other Pittsfield apparatus were committed to the Beacon Street fire.
 
It took crews 20 minutes to bring the fire under control. The fire spread up an interior wall into the attic.
 
The home suffered water, fire, and smoke damage. The two occupants found alternative housing for the night.
 
The cause was deemed accidental due to unattended cooking.
 
There were no injuries.
 

Tags: structure fire,   

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Dalton Finance Makes Reserve Fund Transfers

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Finance Committee made two reserve fund transfers last Wednesday night. 
 
The reserve fund balance is currently $60,000. This is the first reserve fund transfer the town has made this fiscal year, committee clerk Karen Schmidt said. 
 
A transfer to the vocational education tuition account for $16,000 was approved. The original appropriation was $605,020 and the present balance is $4,527. 
 
It had been previously demonstrated that setting the budget for this account can be challenging due to the uncertainty about how many students will choose to attend vocational education programs.
 
The vocational education account was reduced by $90,000 during a September special town meeting; however, a spot opened up at a vocational program, so a student decided to transfer after the start of the second quarter. 
 
A transfer for the employee fringe benefits account was approved for $10,000. The original appropriation was $64,180. 
 
The present balance is $4,412.77 and is not sufficient to cover the vacation payouts and sick buy backs of the six employees who left this year. 
 
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