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Firefighters remove the decorative steeple at Price Memorial AME Zion Church that was hit by lightning on Sunday night.

Lightning Strike Burns Pittsfield Church Steeple

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The lightning strike started a fire in the Linden Street church's steeple.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A lightning strike started a fire in the steeple at Price Memorial AME Zion Church on Sunday. 
 
Firefighters responded to the report of a chimney fire at the church about 7:49 p.m. and saw fire coming from the steeple. 
 
The Engine 3 crew searched for  interior access to the steeple and checked for fire extension. Engine 5 supplied water and used the "deck gun monitor." Also responding was Engine 1 and Engine 6, as the rapid intervention team. 
 
The fire was extinguished within 45 minutes. 
 
The church steeple was essentially an "ornamental" design and
not part of the church's main foundational support structure," said Deputy Chief Daniel Garner in his report. 
 
The top portion of the steeple sustained heavy fire damage. Firefighters removed the damaged portion of the steeple to ensure full extinguishment. Eyewitness reports verified the fire was caused was due to a lightning strike. At the time leading up to this incident the center of the city had experienced a localized microburst thunder and lightning storm.
 
Garner said due to the quick, hard work of fire personnel and a little divine intervention the fire never gained a foothold on the main part of the church. 
 
There were no fire or civilian injuries from this incident. Damage estimates not available at the time of this writing.
 
This was the second fire within a 12-hour period. There was a fire alarm activation at 9:15 a.m. at Patrick's Pub. Firefighters found some smoke and water on arrival and a small fire was found to have occurred in a corner of the kitchen near the rear exit. It was extinguished by a single sprinkler head located right above the fire origin. Firefighters ensured full extinguishment and secured the system water flow to limit further damage.
 
The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion of oil-soaked rags. Damage estimates are not available at this time. City Health Department and Fire Prevention are working with the owner to get the restaurant opened again.

Tags: lightning,   structure fire,   

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 
 
The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.
 
"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.
 
"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 
 
Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 
 
Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 
 
Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.
 
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