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Firefighters battled a second-story blaze Saturday on Linden Street.

Pittsfield Fire Destroys Linden Street Apartment

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Linden Street blaze destroyed a second-floor apartment and sent two firefighters to emergency room for treatment.
 
The cause of the fire at 78 Linden St. is still under investigation. The second-floor incurred heavy fire, smoke and water damage; the first-floor apartment has "moderate" damage.
 
The occupant of the second-floor apartment was able to flee the building and firefighters evacuated the person on the floor.
 
The fire was reported at about 4:30 a.m. on Saturday. The report by Deputy Chief Matthew Noyes state three engines and Tower 2 responded.
 
"Upon arrival we found heavy fire showing from the second-floor windows on the AB side, B side, and BC side of the building," Noyes wrote. "Command calls for a double alarm bring E6 and E2 to the scene. E3 made an aggressive interior attack knocking down the main body of fire. Primary and secondary searches completed, back up line, ventilation and overhaul operations were completed."
 
Two firefighters were treated for injuries and released from Berkshire Medical Center. Lenox and Dalton fire departments provided mutual aid coverage to the city. Crews had remained at the Saturday to ensure safety and assist in the investigation.

Tags: structure fire,   

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Crosby/Conte Statement of Interest Gets OK From Council

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Architect Carl Franceschi and Superintendent Joseph Curtis address the City Council on Tuesday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With the approval of all necessary bodies, the school district will submit a statement of interest for a combined build on the site of Crosby Elementary School.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously gave Superintendent Joseph Curtis the green light for the SOI to the Massachusetts School Building Authority by April 12.

"The statement I would make is we should have learned by our mistakes in the past," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

"Twenty years ago, we could have built a wastewater treatment plant a lot cheaper than we could a couple of years ago and we can wait 10 years and get in line to build a new school or we can start now and, hopefully, when we get into that process and be able to do it cheaper then we can do a decade from now."

The proposal rebuilds Conte Community School and Crosby on the West Street site with shared facilities, as both have outdated campuses, insufficient layouts, and need significant repair. A rough timeline shows a feasibility study in 2026 with design and construction ranging from 2027 to 2028.

Following the SOI, the next step would be a feasibility study to determine the specific needs and parameters of the project, costing about $1.5 million and partially covered by the state. There is a potential for 80 percent reimbursement through the MSBA, who will decide on the project by the end of the year.

Earlier this month, city officials took a tour of both schools — some were shocked at the conditions students are learning in.

Silvio O. Conte Community School, built in 1974, is a 69,500 square foot open-concept facility that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s but the quad classroom layout poses educational and security risks.  John C. Crosby Elementary School, built in 1962, is about 69,800 square feet and was built as a junior high school so several aspects had to be adapted for elementary use.

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