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An attic fire forced two families to flee their Greylock Terrace home early Monday morning.

Pittsfield Fire Displaces Five, Injures Firefighters

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An attic fire that scorched the top portion of a duplex early Monday morning displaced five residents and injured two firefighters.

The Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 95 Greylock Terrace at about 3:30 p.m. Two firefighters were treated on the scene with minor injuries; there were no civilian injuries.

"Dispatch reported 911 caller attempted to extinguish a growing fire in their attic with an
extinguisher but were unsuccessful," the department reported.

The fire is currently under investigation but early findings point to a possible electrical issue.

The blaze was extinguished within one hour. Fire and smoke damage were contained to the attic and the second floor sustained water damage from attempts to douse the blaze.

Three engines, one car, and a tower truck responded while the Rapid Intervention Team was put on standby.



When Engine 5 and Car 2 arrived, they found smoke emanating from the 2 1/2 story, wood-
frame, two-family home. The E5 crew began extinguishing the growing attic fire using a hose line while the E3 crew secured the water supply to E5 and assisted with fire suppression.

E2 crew conducted a primary search of the building to ensure all occupants were accounted for and the Tower-1 crew ventilated the building and used salvage covers to lessen water damage to the occupants' belongings.

There are no current estimates for damage and the utilities were shut off until repairs are made. The Red Cross is assisting the five occupants with relocating during this time.

The PFD credited Pittsfield Police for assisting the evacuation efforts before they arrived.

From the outside, the home's two dormer attic windows are broken and there appears to be char inside. The structure dates to 1900


Tags: structure fire,   

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Dalton Water Crews Fixing Leak on North Street

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — It's been a busy couple of days for the Dalton Water Department's four-man crew who have been addressing a couple of water leaks. 
 
Drivers on North Street approaching the bridge will see the crew working with REWC Land Management, Inc. employees to locate a water main and repair the leak. 
 
Water Department Superintendent Bob Benlien emphasized that the leak is minor and does not affect any residents. He does not foresee having to turn the water off and expects it to be repaired by the end of the day. 
 
The leak was so minor that it did not appear in the department's flow chart, so it is less than 100 gallons a minute, he said. 
 
The likely cause is aging infrastructure as the pipe was installed in the 1930s, Benlien explained. 
 
The main thing is finding the pipe and the leak, which they are currently doing. The road has changed over time, and it looks like the pipe was moved when the bridge was built up so the department is searching for the pipe and leak now. 
 
The water main is located on a state road with a gas main within close proximity, so the department opted to contract  REWC because it has a vacuum excavation truck.
 
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