Back-to-Back Structure Fires Hit Pittsfield Homes

Pittsfield firefighters fought two serious structure fires over the weekend, one on Friday night and another on Saturday night. Both required second alarms, mutual aid, and help for residents who had to leave their homes. No civilians or firefighters were hurt in either blaze.

The first call came in Friday around 6:16 p.m. at 209 Springside Avenue. Engine 2 arrived first and found a two-and-a-half-story wood-frame multifamily building with heavy fire on the second-floor front porch and flames coming out of the structure. Because of the size of the fire and the building, a second alarm was struck. That brought all on-duty personnel to the scene along with notifications to Chief Sammons and city officials. Engine 1 was called in as the rapid intervention team.

First-arriving crews stretched hose lines inside and did primary searches. Those searches came up empty. An off-duty fire captain who was nearby early in the incident helped get people out of the building and rescued a dog. Other occupants were accounted for. Ladders went up around the house for access and possible escape.

Water pressure was low, which made it hard to get enough water on the fire. The flames moved quickly through the second floor and into the attic. Crews switched to a defensive attack and were ordered out of the building. A second ladder truck responded to help with extinguishment. Eversource, Berkshire Gas, and the Pittsfield Water Department arrived to shut off utilities and assist. The roof partially collapsed during the fight, which slowed progress. Firefighters brought the fire under control after about four hours.

Off-duty Pittsfield firefighters covered the rest of the city with help from Lenox and Dalton. Hinsdale sent its rehab vehicle and air truck. Action Ambulance stood by. The Salvation Army and Red Cross assisted nine displaced occupants, with six needing immediate help. An engine company stayed on scene overnight for fire watch. The cause remains under investigation by the Pittsfield Fire Investigation Unit and the Massachusetts State Police Fire Investigation Unit.

The second fire started Saturday around 9:51 p.m. at 121 Elaine Drive. Engine 6 arrived first on a one-story wood-frame house with heavy fire showing from the garage and front porch. A second alarm went out again because of the volume of fire. Engine 5 was assigned as the rapid intervention team.

Crews launched an aggressive attack, stretching lines and putting water on the fire. Primary searches were negative. Occupants had already evacuated and were accounted for. Eversource and Berkshire Gas secured utilities. The fire was under control in roughly one hour.

The same mutual-aid pattern followed. Off-duty Pittsfield firefighters covered the city with support from Lenox and Dalton. Hinsdale again sent its rehab vehicle and air truck. Action Ambulance was on scene. The Salvation Army and Red Cross helped six displaced occupants. An engine company remained overnight for fire watch. No injuries were reported. This fire is also under investigation by the Pittsfield Fire Investigation Unit and the Massachusetts State Police Fire Investigation Unit.

In both cases, the Pittsfield Fire Department thanked its mutual-aid partners for the assistance.