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Pittsfield firefighters responded to a fire early Saturday on Barker Road.
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Pittsfield Fire Causes $200K in Damages

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A fire at a Barker Road home early Saturday morning caused an estimated $200,000 in damage to single-family home.
 
According to Deputy Chief Neil Myers, the blaze 1100 Barker Road was called in at about 4:10 a.m. by the alarm company and a passerby. 
 
Engine 1, under the direction of Lt. Jacob Brown, found heavy fire in the rear of the building and the occupants outside and unhurt. He requested a second alarm and aid from the newly developed "Tanker Taskforce" of Richmond, Lee and Sheffield, said Myers, "as we were on the far end of the hydrant system, ultimately they were not utilized."
 
Five engines and a ladder truck responded along with Pittsfield Police and County Ambulance; Lenox provided an engine to cover the station.
 
There were no injuries other than a firefighter who suffered a minor shoulder injury that did not require treatment. Red Cross offered assistance to the family at the scene.
 
"The fire was brought under control within an hour and crews remained on the scene for several hours overhauling and assisting with fire invstigation," Myers said in his report.
 
There was major fire, heat and smoke damage throughout first and second floor. The cause had not been determined and is under investigation.

Tags: structure fire,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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