‘It Would Be A Challenge To Save The Structure’, Fire Rips Through Berkshire District Attorney’s Home

The home of Berkshire County District Attorney Tim Shugrue suffered heavy fire damage on Wednesday night as firefighters battled for about 90 minutes before it was under control.

The 3,000-square-foot residence, located down a 1,000-foot driveway, saw heavy smoke and flames, prompting a swift response from the Pittsfield Fire Department. Due to the long driveway, firefighters had to do relay pumping - something they train for in situations like this. Crews ran a hose from the hydrant on the street to a fire engine -then another hose from that fire engine to the house.

One minor injury was reported, with the individual treated and released. The home sustained fire, smoke, and water damage. Dalton, Lenox, and Richmond fire departments provided mutual aid, and Eversource and Berkshire Gas secured utilities.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Pittsfield Fire Investigation Unit, Pittsfield Police, and Massachusetts State Police. Barker Road was closed, and traffic was diverted. A loose poodle was reported, and officials from the DA’s office were present. Mayor Peter Marchetti was on-site but did not comment.

We spoke with Pittsfield Fire Chief Chief Tom Sammons on Thursday morning who said the damage to the home was "significant", and when asked if the house was a total loss, he responded, "I'm not a building architect, but it would be a challenge to save the structure".