Berkshire Benchmarks Releases State of the County Update

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Benchmarks data team recently released a State of the County Update for 2023. 
 
This brief report builds on the Berkshire Benchmarks State of the County Report published in May 2022 and highlights notable changes in regional indicators over the past year. The berkshirebenchmarks.org website has also been updated to reflect the most current available data. 
 
The purpose of the Benchmarks initiative and report is to highlight the region's successes and challenges.
 
The 2022 Berkshire Benchmarks State of the County report provided a comprehensive overview of our region's performance across eight sectors: Economy, Education, Environment, Government, Health, Housing, Social Environment, and Transportation.  
 
In the future, the Berkshire Benchmarks team will continue to monitor these and other indicators to aid with the regional understanding of changes in these sectors and whether the work happening throughout the region is having the intended impact. 
 
Berkshire Benchmarks is a collaborative initiative managed through Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC). Our sources are publicly available data, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Community Survey, various Massachusetts data sets, and periodic surveys of Berkshire County residents. 
 
Berkshire Benchmarks aims to work with the community to understand priorities and help inform the region on how we are doing and if we are improving. Berkshire Benchmarks enhances the region's access to quality data and analysis. 

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Pittsfield Duplex Fire Displaces Six, Kills 2 Cats

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Six people were displaced, and two cats died in a duplex fire Monday night. 

Just before 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 9, the Pittsfield Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 54-56 Worthington Place. 

Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and saw smoke showing from the first and second floors of the three-story wood-frame home. 

The main body of fire on the first floor was knocked down within a few minutes, allowing companies to quickly check the remainder of the apartment and complete searches. The remaining fire and hot spots were deemed under control within 30 minutes. 

All occupants were accounted for by Pittsfield Police upon PFD's arrival. Three cats were found in the apartment with the fire, one alive and two deceased. Two dogs made it out of the blaze. 

Four engine companies, a ladder company, and the deputy chief responded. 

"Thanks to quick decisions of the fire apartment occupants to call 911 right away certainly aided in a rapid PFD response from our two closest stations on Columbus Ave and West Housatonic St and saving the structure from severe damage," PFD wrote in a press release. 

"The occupants were upstairs when this fire started and were able to quickly make their way downstairs, past the fire and out the front door safely with no injuries. Three adults, three children, two dogs and a cat were displaced from the two apartments. Red Cross responded and assisted with housing and

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