Fire Weather Watch Posted for Berkshire County

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The National Weather Service has posted a fire weather watch for Tuesday, along with some frost warnings.

Low humidity and gusty winds forecast Tuesday are a recipe for disaster. The Weather Service is predicting "critical fire weather conditions."

It's a continuation of this year's wonky winter weather that saw temperatures in the 80s last week as a strong warm front moved through the area. But the cold came back Sunday and temperatures are expected to plummet into the teens Monday night and the 20s on Tuesday. That could damage budding plants tricked by last week's balmy temperatures.

And, with little snow and dry ground, all of Berkshire County and much of eastern New York and Southern Vermont are in danger of grass and brush fires.

A number of brush fires have already occurred over the past week in Western and central Massachusetts. FireGround360° reported calls on seven different brush fires on Monday alone, including one on Greylock Road in Cheshire in the afternoon.  A large brush fire ignited by yard burning was contained in Savoy last week; on Monday night, several fire companies were battling a blaze near Richmond Pond.


There may be some relief — at least for the dry conditions. By Wednesday, precipitation will move into the region with chances of snow, rain or sleet.

But that's expected to be less than an inch, so even if it's traditionally burning season, you should check with your local fire department before lighting up.

Below is a link to the Richmond fire photo.


Tags: fire,   weather,   

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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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