Pittsfield Firefighters Battle Structure Fire, Brushfire

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters fought a series of structure fires and a brush fire under control this Friday.
 
Firefighters responded to a reported structure fire at 933 Holmes Rd. around 4:24 pm on Friday Nov. 8. At the same time, firefighters were called to the area of 10 Scamwell Avenue for an out-of-control brush fire with possible impingement to a house.
 
Upon arrival, firefighters found a working structure fire in the rear of 8/10 Scamwell. There was also active fire on the rear porch of 12 Scamwell, with a large swath of fire extending up the rear yard hillside to nearby homes on Draper Avenue.
 
The fire at 8/10 Scamwell, a 2-1/2 story, wood frame, two-family dwelling, extended into the home and took hold in the common attic space. Engine 5 arrived and stretched 1-3/4" and 2-1/2" hose lines to the rear of the affected structures and began suppression. 
 
Upon confirming the Holmes Road fire alarm was minor, Engine 6 released the assignment which brought E3, E1, T2 to the Scamwell/Draper scene.
 
A second alarm was struck, and two command zones were initiated, with Car2 and Car3 commanding Scamwell and Draper respectively. Hinsdale Fire responded with their rehab/air trucks.
 
Firefighers attacked the fire in the rear of 8/10 Scamwell and 12 Scamwell, E3 crew stretched 2" hose to the attic of 8/10 Scamwell and began extinguishing all fire in the attic space. 
 
E2 crew secured water supplies. E6 crews conducted a primary search of the building to ensure occupants were all out. 
 
T2 crew laddered the building and assisted with identifying fire extension within the building. Car 4 arrived and assumed safety officer. Car1 and M-1 arrived on scene.
 
Engine 1 and Car3 arrived on Draper Avenue and stretched fire hose to control the fire line impinging on the homes adjoining the Scamwell scene. They extinguished a growing fire under a rear porch deck and multiple "hot spots" in the dry, wooded area near several homes on Draper.
 
Lenox Fire responded directly to the Scamwell/Draper scenes and stood fast for backup.
 
Both scenes were under control within 60-90 minutes. The gusty, churning, wind-patterns in the rear of the Scamwell homes initially contributed to rapid fire growth. These same wind patterns shifted away from immediate structures during initial stages of operations and helped save further fire growth to the buildings.
 
Everource and Berkshire Gas responded and secured utilities. There were two families displaced from 8/10 Scamwell because of this fire. They are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
 
There were no reported injuries.
 
Fire cause is being investigated by the Pittsfield Fire Investigation Unit.
 
Mutual aid partners: Lenox Fire, Dalton Fire, Adams Fire, Lanesboro Fire, and Hinsdale Fire
 

Tags: structure fire,   

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Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's engineers say there is still time to work through the Dalton Division Road project’s design and permitting process. 
 
In December, the Select Board voted to advocate for Concept A, which would have sidewalks on both sides, a 5-foot bike lane in the road on both sides with a buffer, and a 2-foot painted buffer between the vehicle lane and in the bike lane. They also recommended the two-way stop control option. 
 
Since that decision, there have been sentiments to revisit this decision to reduce the cost and improve safety at the intersection off Williams Street, Washington Mountain Road, and Mountain Road. 
 
The original vote would have been the most expensive and "certainly not" the engineer or the state's "preferred design," Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a meeting in November. 
 
During last week's Select Board meeting, Fuss & O'Neil project manager and senior traffic engineer Steve Savaria represented the options, explained potential obstacles, and demonstrated the next steps. Present board members have yet to vote on their final choice. 
 
The project is still in the pre-25 percent design stage and is currently on the fiscal year 2029 Transportation Improvement Program list, so there is "plenty of time" to work out the details. 
 
Since the original vote, some board members have shifted their opinion toward advocating for the most feasible and timely option with a "path of least resistance to get this project done." 
 
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