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Medical aid then responded, and the person was transported to Berkshire Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Pittsfield Man Killed in Car Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Update on Jan. 21, 2022: Authorities are still investigating a fatal car fire on Wednesday morning that killed 69-year-old Barry Dunnells. 
 
Dunnells, of Pittsfield, was pulled from a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo outside the Livingston Apartments on East Street by firefighters. 
 
He was taken to Berkshire Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. 
 
Fire officials said Dunnells was inside the burning car when they arrived at about 8:40 a.m. Two other vehicles parked nearby were damaged.
 
The body was taken to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office to determine the the cause and manner of death. Pittsfield detective and fire investigators, and the State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating the incident.

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A person suffered life-threatening injuries from a car fire on Wednesday morning that spread to two other vehicles.

Around 8:40 am, a motor vehicle fire was called into 911 at 257-265 East Street or the Livingston apartment building.  The car was parked in the parking lot behind the building on 7 Second St. 

The Pittsfield Fire Department responded with one engine and arrived at the same time as the Pittsfield Police Department. Upon arrival, they found a person was still in the burning vehicle and was on fire.

"Typically a motor vehicle fires a one-engine response, we responded one engine. They arrived concurrently with Pittsfield police and bystanders explained that there was still a person in the motor vehicle that was on fire," Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Garner reported.

He added that the fire began to spread to surrounding vehicles. Three vehicles in total were damaged.

"So Engine Three firefighters pulled the person from their burning vehicle.  At that point, I arrived and I found the fire had spread to other motor vehicles," he said. "I called for more assistance because Engine Three then started medical aid on the victim."

Medical aid then responded, and the person was transported to Berkshire Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

The section of Second Street that the apartment building is on was closed off for about two hours to make room for emergency vehicles.  

Garner confirmed that the fire was in a parked car and was not the result of a crash.  At the time, he did not have an update on the victim's condition.

The area of the fire is marked off with barricade tape.


The incident is currently being investigated by the Pittsfield Fire Department’s fire investigation unit, the Pittsfield Police, and Massachusetts Fire Marshal's Office.


Tags: fatal,   fire,   

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BHS Provider Clinics Win MHQP Patient Experience Awards

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced that three of its primary care provider clinics have received awards from Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP) for being among the top practices in Massachusetts for patient experience in primary care.
 
The "MHQP Patient Experience Awards" is an annual awards program introduced in 2018 by MHQP, a non-profit measurement and reporting organization that works to improve the quality of patient care experiences in Massachusetts. MHQP conducts the only statewide survey of patient experience in primary care in Massachusetts.
 
"The teams at Adams Internists, Berkshire Internists and Lenox Family Health have worked extremely hard to provide their patients with the highest standard of compassionate, patient-centered care," said James Lederer, MD, BHS Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality Officer. "Berkshire Health Systems is pleased by this recognition, which validates that our patients are receiving the quality communication, care, and support that they deserve, which is our highest priority."
 
Awards were given to top overall performers in adult primary care and pediatrics in each of nine performance categories. Adams Internists of BMC, Berkshire Internists of BMC and Lenox Family Health Center of BMC received recognition for the following awards for adult care:
  • Adams Internists of BMC: Distinction in Assessment of Patient Behavioral Health Issues
  • Berkshire Internists of BMC: Distinction in Patient-Provider Communications and How Well Providers Know Their Patients
  • Lenox Family Health Center of BMC: Distinction in Patient-Provider Communications and Office Staff Professional Experience
"It is not easy for a primary care practice to thrive in the current environment," said Barbra Rabson, MHQP's President and CEO. "We are thrilled to congratulate each of them on behalf of their patients for their exceptional commitment to excellence."
 
"Primary care is the foundation of our health care system," said Julita Mir, MD, MHQP's Board Chair. "The practices from all across the state recognized with this award have distinguished themselves where it matters most – in the experiences of their own patients."
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