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Pittsfield firefighters are battling a major structure fire on North Street.
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North Street has been blocked off past Linden Street.
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Pittsfield Firefighters Battling 3-Alarm Blaze on North Street

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters were battling a large blaze on North Street late Wednesday night. 
 
The fire at 6 White Terrace was called in shortly before midnight as a structure fire and a third alarm was called in. 
 
Smoke could be seen billowing from the upper floors of the four-story building that fronts on North Street not far from Berkshire Medical Center. 
 
This fire appears to be in the middle section of the building. There's heavy smoke and flames can be seen coming out of windows, and the roof.
 
North Street was blocked off from at least Linden Street to White Terrace and a smoky haze covers the area. 
 
The apartment building was the scene of a fire in 2017 on the north end of the three-structure complex. At least two dozen people had to be evacuated at that time and four people were treated at the hospital.
 
Fire Department officials were unable to comment at this time and the building is reportedly unoccupied.
 
Hinsdale Fire Department and its rehab bus are on the scene as are Lenox firefighters. Police are not allowing anyone close to the scene and visibility is low from smoke.

Tags: structure fire,   

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Pittsfield ARPA Funds Have Year-End Expiration Date

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — American Rescue Fund Act monies must be spent by the end of the year, and Pittsfield is already close. 

In 2021, the city was awarded a historic amount of money — $40,602,779 — in federal remediation funds for the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the end of September 2025, more than $37 million had been expended, and 90 percent of the 84 awarded projects were complete. 

Special Project Manager Gina Armstrong updated the City Council on the ARPA funds during its first meeting of the new term on Tuesday. 

As of September 2025, the $4.7 million allocated for public health and COVID-19 response has been fully expended. Additionally, $22.7 million of the $24.9 million allocated for negative economic impacts has been expended, and nearly all of the infrastructure funds, more than $5.8 million, have been expended. 

Less than $3 million of the $3.7 million allocated for revenue replacement has been spent, along with about $873,00 of the $1.1 million allocated for administration. 

Armstrong noted that in the last quarter, "Quite a bit more has been done in the areas of the housing projects." In 2022, then-Mayor Linda Tyer allocated $8.6 million in ARPA funds for affordable housing initiatives, and the community is eager for those additional units to come online. 

Nine supportive units at the Zion Lutheran Church on First Street received more than $1.5 million in ARPA funds, the 7,700-square-foot housing resource center in the basement received more than $4.6 million, and the Westside Legends' home construction project saw more than $361,000 for two single-family homes on South Church Street and Daniels Avenue. 

"This is just about complete, and I believe that people who are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness will be able to take these apartments in the very near future," Armstrong said, noting the supportive units and resource center that had a ribbon-cutting in late 2025

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