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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 ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

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