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Updated January 18, 2021 09:42AM

Update: Sheffield Fatal Fire Accidental

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Update: Sheffield Fire Chief David J. Ullrich, Sheffield Police Chief Eric R. Munson III, and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said the cause of the Jan. 13, 2021 fatal fire at 1715 Hewins Street in Sheffield was accidental. 
 
Investigators determined that a failure of the chimney and wood burning furnace caused the fire that took the lives of two residents. The Berkshire District Attorney's Office has identified the victims as 75-year-old James Boltrom and 66-year-old Dorene Boltrom.
 
"On behalf of our firefighters and the town of Sheffield, I offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victims," Chief Ullrich said. "We're all neighbors in this small town." 
 
The fire in the log cabin style home started inside the chimney and spread to nearby combustibles. Investigators were able to find several areas where smoke and heat breached the chimney and piping system from the furnace and entered the home. There was a significant amount of wood and kindling next to the wood-burning furnace in the basement.
 
"Sadly, there were no signs that this home had working smoke alarms," Ullrich said. "Smoke alarms provide the early warning needed when you may have less than three minutes to wake up and escape."
 
Members of the Sheffield Fire and Police Departments and State Police assigned to both the Office of the State Fire Marshal and to the Office of the Berkshire District Attorney jointly investigated the fire. Assistance was received from other State Police Units and the Department of Fire Services' Code Compliance Unit.
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Original post, Jan. 13, 2021; 2:54 p.m.
 
SHEFFIELD, Mass. — The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office and the State Fire Marshal's Office are jointly investigating a structure fire in Sheffield that killed two people.
 
Wednesday morning around 5:49 a.m, multiple neighbors called 911 and reported a structure fire at 1715 Hewins St. Multiple agencies responded minutes later to find the home fully engulfed in flames.
 
Caanan, Conn., Sheffield, Great Barrington, Egremont, and New Marlboro Fire Departments knocked down and extinguished the blaze.
 
After gaining access to the home, first responders discovered the remains of two adults inside.
 
The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, Sheffield Police, and the State Fire Marshal's Office are leading the investigation. While the fire remains under investigation, preliminary evidence does not indicate that the fire is suspicious in nature.
 
Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington, Sheffield Police Chief Eric Munson, and State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey all responded to the scene. Southern Berkshire Ambulance and the Berkshire County Sherriff's Office also provided assistance on scene.
 
The State Medical Examiner's Office took custody of the remains to perform autopsies and positively identify the victims.
 
The Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and troopers from the State Police Lee Barracks are assisting in the active investigation.

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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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