image description — The store is approaching its 110-year milestone in 2024, originally opening as a variety store in 1914.

Update: Harry's Supermarket Fire Started at the Deli Counter

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
08:28PM / Tuesday, July 11, 2023Print Story | Email Story

The mural on the side of the building did not appear to be affected by the fire.

Updated on 7/12/2023 at 7:43 A.M.: A Pittsfield Fire Department report released early Wednesday morning stated that the fire origin area is where the deli counter was located.

PFD members worked aggressively to control/extinguish the fire, ventilate the smoke, and prevent the fire's spread. The fire was eventually brought under control in a little over an hour and a fire watch was posted through the evening.

The report continued that there is no damage estimate at this time, and the building sustained heavy fire damage in the rear of the store, smoke, and water damage.

But the building is sound, and the damage incurred is not expected to cause the building to be razed.

There were no reported civilian injuries associated with this fire. One Pittsfield firefighter was transported to BMC with heat exhaustion. He was treated, released, and expected to make a full recovery.

The report went on to say firefighters responded at 6:25 after the supermarket closed at 6. Upon arrival, they found a large volume of smoke showing from the single-story, non-combustible

market.

Car2 arrived shortly after E5 and found heavy smoke conditions permeating from all sides of the building. The smoke conditions consisted of heavy dark smoke pushing through openings with a high velocity. This smoke condition was consistent with a high probability of heavy fire conditions inside.

A 2nd alarm was struck immediately, bringing all on-duty companies to the scene.

The report indicated that entering the secure building was a challenge. Firefighters also faced high heat conditions.

Lanesboro, Dalton, and Lenox fire departments covered the city during the fire. Hinsdale Fire Department provided their firefighter rehabilitation and air trucks.

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Smoke billowed out of Harry's Supermarket Tuesday evening as firefighters responded to a two-alarm blaze.

Residents crowded a closed-down stretch of Wahconah Street as crews broke the over 100-year-old store's front windows to allow the smoke to release.

The alarm occurred around 6:30 p.m. just after Cory Wilcox, Nico Amuso, Nathan Myers, and Alexander Sawicki were appointed to the Pittsfield Fire Department during City Council.

"Tonight we were swearing in four firefighters, four new guys sworn in on City Council. Just walked out of the chambers downstairs and got a report of a structure fire here at Harry's Supermarket on Wahconah Street," Chief Thomas Sammons reported around 7:30 p.m.

"We got here and there was heavy smoke showing immediately, made entry into the building through guarded doors, and vented the roof. We got into the seed of the fire. There was heavy smoke and not a lot of fire so right now, we're rehabbing our crews, cycling new crews in, and we're going to hope to have it put out here in another hour."

The investigation is said to be "very preliminary" but Sammons said that the fire was on the first floor in the kitchen area.

All of the city's initial crews responded. At the scene were six engines a truck company in service.

"Everybody's here," Sammons reported. "We have surrounding towns. We have Hinsdale's rehab here at the scene helping our guys out and then we have Dalton and Lenox covering our stations."

He noted the high temperatures and said that keeping the firefighters from overheating is a big priority. Bottles of water were being distributed on the scene.

Wahconah Street was blocked from Alcove Street to the intersection of Pecks Road to make room for the response.

In 2021, Robert and Thomas Nichols sold the operation to Ravikant Patel, who owns a number of other businesses in the county including Williamstown Wine and Spirits and O'Geary's in Adams.

The store is approaching its 110-year milestone in 2024, originally opening as a variety store in 1914.

From the street, Harry's hallmark advertisement signs could be seen charred. The mural on the side of the building did not appear to be affected by the fire.

Tags: structure fire,

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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