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A structure fire on Orchard Street in Pittsfield forced three families to evacuate.

Fourth of July Fire Chars Morningside Multifamily Home

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Heavy flames can be seen coming from the front of the building in this video screenshot provided by the Fire Department. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A two-alarm structure fire on the Fourth of July charred the front portion of a Morningside multifamily but caused no injuries.

The blaze at 91-93 Orchard St. was reported at about 10 p.m. on Monday. Firefighters found heavy fire and smoke coming from the front of the building.

The home is a 2 1/2-story wood frame structure with three units that dates to 1900.

The Fire Department was told there might be children trapped in the building, and a second alarm was called to bring all on-duty fire personnel to the scene.   

Five engines, one ladder, and one command fire apparatus responded. The first responders battled the fire, conducted searches, secured water supplies, and checked for fire extension.  

No occupants were found in the search and the fire was brought under control in 90 minutes. There were no fire personnel or civilian injuries reported.

The cause is undetermined at this time.



The building sustained fire, smoke, and water damage that is reported to be primarily contained to one apartment. A report from the Fire Department said the other two apartments have heavy smoke damage but that the building is salvageable.

From the road, the front bottom portion of the building appears charred on the interior and exterior.  The siding on the top of the building is also melted.

Occupants are being assisted with temporary accommodations from the Red Cross.

The property is listed as being owned by Flex Investments LLC of Marlborough.


Tags: structure fire,   

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Lanesborough Hopes for Continued Talks on Mall Sale

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board is optimistic that talks for the Berkshire Mall sale will continue. 
 
Chair Deborah Maynard and Vice Chair Juli Baker were to meet with mall owner JMJ Holdings, the Baker Hill Road District, and proposed buyer Cypress Equities on Tuesday to discuss next steps. As of Wednesday, iBerkshires had received a "we are optimistic" from Maynard on the talks. The Berkshire Eagle reported a response from a Cypress representative saying talks will continue.  
 
Baker had updated the Select Board on Monday about the status of the sale and the efforts being undertaken by the renamed Baker Hill Business District.
 
Cypress Equities pulled out of a purchase-and sale-agreement with mall owner JMJ last week for the following reasons. 
  • Not enough water service/pressure to the property to support redevelopment without constructing costly water tanks.
  • The current septic system and former treatment facility is not acceptable for a project of the scale and magnitude proposed.
  • There is existing asbestos and bad soil from the treatment system that needs to be remediated off site.
  • And the current structure and tax assessment of the Baker Hill Road District.
Baker has been working with what is now being called the Baker Hill Business District and said she and the district members are happy that Cypress has decided to leave the door open to more discussions and that they have been working hard to try and address the company's needs.
 
Last month, the town had asked state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III to support the state Department of Transportation taking over the Connector Road, funding for a mall connection to Pittsfield's wastewater treatment plant and a connection to the town's water main.
 
Baker said an amendment has been drafted to cap the district's taxes to not grow more than 2.5 percent a year. She noted that, historically, taxes have not grown by more than one percent per year, so it won't be difficult to meet that cap.
 
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