image description
Medical aid then responded, and the person was transported to Berkshire Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Pittsfield Man Killed in Car Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
Update on Jan. 21, 2022: Authorities are still investigating a fatal car fire on Wednesday morning that killed 69-year-old Barry Dunnells. 
 
Dunnells, of Pittsfield, was pulled from a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo outside the Livingston Apartments on East Street by firefighters. 
 
He was taken to Berkshire Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. 
 
Fire officials said Dunnells was inside the burning car when they arrived at about 8:40 a.m. Two other vehicles parked nearby were damaged.
 
The body was taken to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office to determine the the cause and manner of death. Pittsfield detective and fire investigators, and the State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating the incident.

____________________________________________________________

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A person suffered life-threatening injuries from a car fire on Wednesday morning that spread to two other vehicles.

Around 8:40 am, a motor vehicle fire was called into 911 at 257-265 East Street or the Livingston apartment building.  The car was parked in the parking lot behind the building on 7 Second St. 

The Pittsfield Fire Department responded with one engine and arrived at the same time as the Pittsfield Police Department. Upon arrival, they found a person was still in the burning vehicle and was on fire.

"Typically a motor vehicle fires a one-engine response, we responded one engine. They arrived concurrently with Pittsfield police and bystanders explained that there was still a person in the motor vehicle that was on fire," Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Garner reported.

He added that the fire began to spread to surrounding vehicles. Three vehicles in total were damaged.

"So Engine Three firefighters pulled the person from their burning vehicle.  At that point, I arrived and I found the fire had spread to other motor vehicles," he said. "I called for more assistance because Engine Three then started medical aid on the victim."

Medical aid then responded, and the person was transported to Berkshire Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

The section of Second Street that the apartment building is on was closed off for about two hours to make room for emergency vehicles.  

Garner confirmed that the fire was in a parked car and was not the result of a crash.  At the time, he did not have an update on the victim's condition.

The area of the fire is marked off with barricade tape.


The incident is currently being investigated by the Pittsfield Fire Department’s fire investigation unit, the Pittsfield Police, and Massachusetts Fire Marshal's Office.


Tags: fatal,   fire,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Lanesborouh Planningers Look to Clarify Signage Bylaws

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Planning Board looks to reword the town's sign bylaws after a recent contentious tussle over a business sign because of the way the bylaw could be interpreted.
 
Chair Courtney Dondi addressed the room beforehand, asking the attendees in the room to stay respectful.
 
"I know that our town is experiencing some tension around certain bylaw discussions, change, uncertainty, and complex zoning language can understandably cause frustration. This board does not create conflict. We manage processes," she said. "One of our responsibilities is to ensure that existing and proposed bylaws are revered, be reviewed thoughtfully, legally and transparently, which all take time. 
 
"We serve the entire town, not one group over another. Tonight, we will follow our agenda and maintain order so that every voice has the opportunity to be heard."
 
Planner Joe Trybus later expanded on her comments to explain the board doesn't make the rules.
 
"People always think it's the town and I just want to make clear to everybody that we do not make rules, we do not do anything like that," he said. "You come in, you have a suggestion, we talk about it. If this board agrees on doing something like that, we will write a bylaw to bring to the annual town meeting so everybody in this town can vote on it."
 
Inspired Creations owner Paula Messana said during public comment how she was told to take down a flutter flag because it was not allowed by the town bylaw.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories