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A section of South Street was blocked on Tuesday afternoon as firefighters dealt with an electrical fire.

Dalton Fire Extinguishes Electrical Fire

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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No one was injured in the fire, which was quickly extinguished by firefighters. 
DALTON, Mass. — Several fire companies were called to 201 South St. on Tuesday afternoon for a report of a structure fire. 
 
The occupants were able to flee the single-family home and firefighters quickly doused what turned out to be an electrical fire. 
 
The call came in at about 1:20 p.m. for a structure fire. Fire Chief James Peltier said there was smoke coming from the front entrance and a fire on the three-season porch. 
 
Cheshire sent its rapid intervention team, Hinsdale firefighters responded for standby and Lanesborough covered the fire station. County Ambulance also responded and police shut down the road for a time. It was reopened about 3 p.m.
 
"We had a few other towns mutual aid to help us out because it's the daytime and we don't always have enough help," Peltier said. 
 
He said the homeowners had thrown water on the fire and the smoke worsened. The firefighters quickly went into action to get the residents out of the house and away from the smoke. 
 
"We were able to extinguish the fire relatively quickly," the chief said. "They had thrown some water on it. With the amount of smoke in the house, we had to get them out quickly because we don't want to hang around."
 
 Firefighters stopped the progression of the fire, ripped apart some of the burnt material to confirm the absence of fire, and monitored the house for carbon monoxide.

Tags: electrical,   

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Big Lots to Close Pittsfield Store

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two major chains are closing storefronts in the Berkshires in the coming year.
 
Big Lots announced on Thursday it would liquidate its assets after a purchase agreement with a competitor fell through. 
 
"We all have worked extremely hard and have taken every step to complete a going concern sale," Bruce Thorn, Big Lots' president and CEO, said in the announcement. "While we remain hopeful that we can close an alternative going concern transaction, in order to protect the value of the Big Lots estate, we have made the difficult decision to begin the GOB process."
 
The closeout retailer moved into the former Price Rite Marketplace on Dalton Avenue in 2021. The grocery had been in what was originally the Big N for 14 years before closing eight months after a million-dollar remodel. Big Lots had previously been in the Allendale Shopping Center.
 
Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September. It operated nearly 1,400 stores nationwide but began closing more than 300 by August with plans for another 250 by January. The Pittsfield location had not been amount the early closures. 
 
Its website puts the current list of stores at 960 with 17 in Massachusetts. Most are in the eastern part of the state with the closest in Pittsfield and Springfield. 
 
Advanced Auto Parts, with three locations in the Berkshires, is closing 500 stores and 200 independently owned locations by about June. 
 
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