Area firefighters respond to the report of a structure fire at Craneville Elementary School in Dalton. The Dalton Fire Department has been using a loaned Boston truck.
Craneville Elementary Evacuated After Smoke Fills Building
Parents line up to be reunited with their children at the Stationery Factory, the school's emergency location.
DALTON, Mass. — Pupils at Craneville Elementary School were evacuated from the school on Monday after two motors in the heating and ventilation system burnt out and sent smoke through the building.
According to a message to parents from Superintendent of Schools Leslie Blake-Davis, staff noticed an odor at about 10:45 a.m. that "warranted a fire drill."
"It has been recommended by emergency personnel that students and staff relocate to the Stationary Factory (this is our emergency relocation site) to allow emergency personnel to ensure the issue is fully resolved before students re-enter the building," she wrote.
Two children were reportedly taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield by Lanesborough Ambulance for headaches.
"We didn't actually have a fire here today, they had a power outage and they lost a phase on the electrical system and two HVAC motors burned out and sent an odor and smoke haze through the whole building," said Dalton Fire Lt. Zackery Morrissey on Monday afternoon.
The smoke set off the box alarm, alerting the Fire Department.
He said school officials were advised to release the students because of the severity of the problem wasn't known.
"We had smoke in the furthest wing to through the whole school," Morrissey said. "So it was kind of hard to figure out which wing, what was going on, and we had to search every classroom and we're still not even done with this."
The lieutenant said the first firefighters were on the scene at 10:46 a.m. and he immediately hit a first alarm assignment calling for mutual aid. Other units arrived only minutes later.
"We did an emergency evacuation of the whole school and everybody's being sent home or bussed home, per the school's procedure," Morrissey said.
Parents were lined up at the Stationery Factory after noon to pick up their children.
In addition to Dalton Fire, Dalton Police and Dalton, Hinsdale and Lanesborough ambulances responded.
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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis.
Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report.
During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report.
"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions. As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday.
"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements."
He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report.
"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote.
Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.
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