PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A pickup truck broke through thin ice on Pontoosuc Lake Saturday, but all four individuals fishing nearby safely evacuated without injury.
On Saturday, Dec. 28, at 4:17 p.m., the Pittsfield Fire Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle that had fallen through the ice on Pontoosuc Lake near 239 Narragansett Avenue. Initial reports did not indicate whether any rescues were needed.
Fire crews, including Car 2, Engine 3, Tower 2, Engine 5/Rescue 2, and Action Ambulance Medic 91, arrived to find four civilians who had safely evacuated the area without injuries.
The incident occurred approximately 40-60 feet offshore behind 261 Narragansett Avenue, on the Pittsfield-Lanesborough line. The group, ice fishing at the time, had parked a 2023 Chevy Sierra 2500 pickup truck on the ice, which broke through.
Lanesborough and Pittsfield police, along with the Environmental Police, were notified, and the Environmental Protection Agency was also contacted.
There were no injuries reported.
The Pittsfield Fire Department is urging the public to stay off the ice on all bodies of water, emphasizing that recent weather has not produced the sustained freezing temperatures needed to form thick, stable ice. Both foot traffic and motorized vehicles are unsafe.
Ice Safety Guidelines
Fluctuating temperatures and flowing waters degrade ice conditions. When venturing onto ice, it should always be considered as potentially dangerous.
It is also important to know that newly frozen ice is actually stronger than old ice. For example, 4 inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not.
The Massachusetts Environmental Police wants to remind everyone that on state-owned properties a minimum ice thickness of 5 inches is required for recreation vehicle operation upon authorized frozen waterways.
Also, local cities and towns may place different restrictions as allowing motorized vehicles on frozen waterways. When in doubt, it is best to check with local authorities.
Never venture onto the ice alone and let someone know if you are going onto the ice.
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Dalton Select Board Candidate Forum Set Thursday
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — iBerkshires.com is hosting a Select Board candidate forum at the Senior Center on Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m.
Pittsfield Bureau Chief Brittany Polito will ask the candidates questions curated from voter submissions.
The number of questions will be limited by the 90-minute time limit. Each candidate will begin with a two-minute opening statement. Following this, Polito will ask questions.
For every question, the candidates will each have up to 1 1/2 minutes to answer, followed by 30 seconds each to rebut or follow up. The moderator can allow for further debate on a particular question if needed.
At the conclusion of the event, each candidate will have up to 90 seconds to deliver a closing statement.
The event is also being livestreamed on the iBerkshiresTV YouTube channel and broadcast on Dalton Community Cable Association's Channel 1301 in Dalton.
The election is at the Senior Center, located at 40 Field St., on May 12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Don’t forget to also attend the town meeting on Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School.
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The site assessment by Brian Humes, owner of Jacunski Humes Architects LLC of Berlin, Conn., showed that the lot had the highest ranking of the four submitted for study.
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The district is also working hard to encourage its families to go to town meetings so they have a voice in this, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said in a follow-up.
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Because of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, the funding gap nearly tripled. To make the project happen, Habitat had to save nearly $200,000 by cutting the ADU, which is now allowed by right in Massachusetts.
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