image description
A home on Dalton Avenue suffered extensive damage from a fire on Friday night. Pictures sent courtesy Pittsfield Fire Department.

Pittsfield Fire Investigating Cause of Dalton Avenue Blaze

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton Avenue home was heavily damaged by fire on Friday night. 
 
Multiple people driving by the structure at 206 Dalton called 911 report heavy flames coming from the front of the building, according to Deputy Fire Chief Neil Myers. 
 
Firefighters responded at about 10:39 p.m. with four engine companies and a ladder company. Engine 2 found the front of the two-story residence fully involved with flame and spreading into the front yard. Shortly thereafter E-2 reported the lone occupant of the home had safely evacuated uninjured. 
 
E-2 quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire that was quickly spreading inside the front windows and up to the roof line. E-3 provided a hydrant line to E-2 just as they were running out of water. 
 
A backup hoseline was stretched to the building to assist with primary searches throughout all floors. The fire was deemed under control within 15 minutes and units remained on scene for 90 minutes overhauling the fire damaged areas and ensuring the fire was completely extinguished. 
 
A cat was initially believed to have perished in the blaze but was found alive overnight by the fire watch crew on scene. 
 
The home suffered extensive fire to the front side and into the first floor with a large portion of the home only suffering smoke damage. 
 
A combination of the quick recognition and 911 call by passers-by, the 30-second response time from E-2 station to the fire and the hard work of all on duty crews certainly saved this home from further damage, said Myers.
 
The resident was able to find alternate living arrangements. 
 
Police assisted in closing the eastbound lane of Dalton Avenue for the duration of the incident, County Ambulance provided EMS standby and Lenox Fire provided city coverage with its ladder truck. 
 
The Fire Investigation Unit is currently investigating the cause/origin of the blaze.

Tags: structure fire,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Finance Approves Amended Police Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Finance Committee approved an amended version of the Police Department budget.
 
The amended budget of $1,664,924 is $14,564 less than what was originally requested. This is still an increase of $129,668 increase from this year.
 
The budget is made up of $191,338 in expenses and $1,473,586 in salaries. 
 
The department initially proposed a budget of $1,679,488, a $144,232 or 9.39 percent, increase mainly caused by salary increases.
 
Police Chief Deanna Strout emphasized that the increases within the budget are mostly contractual.  
 
Finance Committee chair William Drosehn said if "we all kind of tightened our belts even further," the budget could be cut by $15,000 or $20,000. 
 
However, he stressed that if more funds are needed, reserve fund transfer requests can be made if the need arises. 
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories