PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters were able to prevent a blaze from engulfing a Fourth Street apartment building on Saturday morning.

 

Deputy Chief Neil Myers said the call came in about 10:13 a.m. for a building fire at 48-50 Fourth St. under the front porch.

 

"[Engine] 6 arrived with Car 2 to find active fire burning along the first floor deck and into the first floor wall area," he reported. "Smoke was exiting from all floors of [the] house including basement and progressively worsening.

 

All occupants were out of the building, although the Engine 3 crew checked the xecond floor apartment to be sure while Engine 6 began the fire attack on the first floor with Tower 1. Engine 1 took a handline and Engine 2 was called to standby, and a Lenox engine was dispatched to help cover the city.

 

"All fire was extinguished and crews remained on scene for two hours assisting PFD investigators and checking for hotspots," Myers wrote. "Quick action by the tenant calling 911 right away and a rapid, efficient PFD response certainly saved another house from further damage."

 

The house's balloon frame could have allowed swift movement of the fire throughout but it was stopped at the second floor.

 

The Red Cross is working on living arrangements for the occupants; there was one adult on the first floor and two adults and five children on the second. 

 

There was fire and heat damage to the first floor and smoke damage on both floors. Damage was estimated at $15,000. The cause has not yet been determined.