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A structure fire on Orchard Street in Pittsfield forced three families to evacuate.

Fourth of July Fire Chars Morningside Multifamily Home

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Heavy flames can be seen coming from the front of the building in this video screenshot provided by the Fire Department. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A two-alarm structure fire on the Fourth of July charred the front portion of a Morningside multifamily but caused no injuries.

The blaze at 91-93 Orchard St. was reported at about 10 p.m. on Monday. Firefighters found heavy fire and smoke coming from the front of the building.

The home is a 2 1/2-story wood frame structure with three units that dates to 1900.

The Fire Department was told there might be children trapped in the building, and a second alarm was called to bring all on-duty fire personnel to the scene.   

Five engines, one ladder, and one command fire apparatus responded. The first responders battled the fire, conducted searches, secured water supplies, and checked for fire extension.  

No occupants were found in the search and the fire was brought under control in 90 minutes. There were no fire personnel or civilian injuries reported.

The cause is undetermined at this time.



The building sustained fire, smoke, and water damage that is reported to be primarily contained to one apartment. A report from the Fire Department said the other two apartments have heavy smoke damage but that the building is salvageable.

From the road, the front bottom portion of the building appears charred on the interior and exterior.  The siding on the top of the building is also melted.

Occupants are being assisted with temporary accommodations from the Red Cross.

The property is listed as being owned by Flex Investments LLC of Marlborough.


Tags: structure fire,   

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Letter: Is the Select Board Listening to Dalton Voters?

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

A reasonable expectation by the people of a community is that their Select Board rises above personal preference and represents the collective interests of the community. On Tuesday night [Nov. 12], what occurred is reason for concern that might not be true in Dalton.

This all began when a Select Board member submitted his resignation effective Oct. 1 to the Town Clerk. Wishing to fill the vacated Select Board seat, in good faith I followed the state law, prepared a petition, and collected the required 200-plus signatures of which the Town Clerk certified 223. The Town Manager, who already had a copy of the Select Board member's resignation, was notified of the certified petitions the following day. All required steps had been completed.

Or had they? At the Oct. 9 Select Board meeting when Board members discussed the submitted petition, there was no mention about how they were informed of the petition or that they had not seen the resignation letter. Then a month later at the Nov. 12 Select Board meeting we learn that providing the resignation letter and certified petitions to the Town Manager was insufficient. However, by informing the Town Manager back in October the Select Board had been informed. Thus, the contentions raised at the Nov. 12 meeting by John Boyle seem like a thinly veiled attempt to delay a decision until the end of January deadline to have a special election has passed.

If this is happening with the Special Election, can we realistically hope that the present Board will listen to the call by residents to halt the rapid increases in spending and our taxes that have been occurring the last few years and pass a level-funded budget for next year, or to not harness the taxpayers in town with the majority of the cost for a new police station? I am sure these issues are of concern to many in town. However, to make a change many people need to speak up.

Please reach out to a Select Board member and let them know you are concerned and want the Special Election issue addressed and finalized at their Nov. 25 meeting.

Robert E.W. Collins
Dalton, Mass.

 

 

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