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The first and second floors of the home experienced severe fire, smoke, and water damage. Noyes confirmed that it is non-inhabitable, adding that the fire essentially “gutted” it. He believes the home has two units in it.

Thursday Morning Fire Severely Damages Pittsfield Home

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters responded to a Von Nida Avenue structure fire Thursday morning that left one man with injuries.

The Pittsfield Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of the structure fire that "gutted" a West Side home and resulted in uninhabitable damage and a man being taken to Berkshire Medical Center.

The Fire Department responded to an alarm at 16 Von Nida Ave. at 5 a.m. and the fire took one hour to control.  According to the media report, when command arrived on the scene they saw heavy fire showing from the first and second floor of the home and immediately requested a second alarm and to bring all on-duty members and apparatus to the scene.

Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Noyes said that when Deputy Fire Chief Ron Clement arrived, the structure was "showing heavy, heavy fire and they needed to double up immediately."


Three engines, one ladder, and the command vehicle were on the scene. Lanesborough and Dalton fire departments responded along with off-duty Pittsfield firefighters while the fire was being fought.

The first and second floors of the home experienced severe fire, smoke, and water damage. Noyes confirmed that it is uninhabitable, adding that the fire essentially "gutted" it. He believes the home has two units in it.

Three adult individuals exited the structure before the department's arrival and a man who is believed to be an occupant was taken to BMC for observation with unknown injuries. This was the only reported injury on the scene.

According to Pittsfield property records, the structure was a single-family home built in 1920.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army were notified to assist the displaced occupants of the home.


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Pittsfield Extends Interim School Superintendent Contract

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips' employment has been extended to 2027

Last week, the School Committee approved an employment contract that runs through June 30, 2027.  Phillips was originally appointed to a one-year position that began on July 1 and runs through the end of the fiscal year in June 2026. 

"You didn't ask me simply to endure challenges or struggle to prove myself. Instead, you believe in me, you've given me the space to grow, the encouragement to stretch, and the expectation that I can truly soar," she said earlier in last Wednesday's meeting when addressing outgoing School Committee members. 

"You question, you poke, you prod, but not to tear anything down, but to make our work stronger, grounded in honesty, integrity, and hope. You've entrusted me with meaningful responsibility and welcomed me into the heart of this community. Serving you and leading our public schools has been, thus far, a joyful, renewing chapter in my life, and I want to thank you for this opportunity." 

Chair William Cameron reported that the extended contract includes a 3 percent cost-of-living increase in the second year and more specific guidelines for dismissal or disciplinary action. 

Phillips was selected out of two other applicants for the position in May. Former Superintendent Joseph Curtis retired at the end of the school year after more than 30 years with the district. 

The committee also approved an employment contract with Assistant Superintendent for CTE and Student Support Tammy Gage that runs through June 30, 2031. Cameron reported that there is an adjustment to the contract's first-year salary to account for new "substantive" responsibilities, and the last three years of the contract's pay are open to negotiation. 

The middle school restructuring, which was given the green light later that night, and the proposal to rebuild and consolidate Crosby Elementary School and Conte Community School on West Street, have been immediate action items in Phillips' tenure. 

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