image description
Firefighters quickly contained a fire that started in the garage but its cause is under investigation.
image description

Pittsfield Firefighters Respond to Blaze on East Street

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A section of East Street was closed for more than an hour as firefighters knocked down a blaze at a building on the Haddad Subaru lot. 
 
The fire was in a former home turned office between the Ford and Subaru dealerships. It was called in just before 8 p.m.
 
"There was a fire in the wall in the garage," said Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Noyes, referring to the small two-car garage on the east side of the building. "The investigators are on scene trying to figure out what started it."
 
He estimated it took about 15 minutes to contain and douse the blaze but checking for extensions in the building "takes quite a bit of time."
 
The damage could be seen about the one-story garage where it connects to the two-story Dutch colonial. 

Tags: structure fire,   

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

Pittsfield Company Fined for Asbestos Violations

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has issued a $17,400 penalty to Pittsfield-based Barile Environmental Inc. for asbestos violations that occurred during abatement services at an office building located at 23 Lewis Ave. in Great Barrington.  
 
MassDEP discovered the violations during inspections of the office building in October 2025. Barile failed to follow appropriate asbestos work practices and controls during its asbestos abatement activities at the building site. MassDEP inspections of the facility revealed that Barile personnel were removing asbestos-containing siding in violation of state asbestos regulations.  
 
"MassDEP enforces asbestos regulations so that management of asbestos-containing materials is completed safely," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP’s Western Regional Office in Springfield. "This consent order requires payment of a substantial penalty and could have been avoided if the proper work practices were followed." 
 
Following MassDEP's order, Barile has completed the required cleanup actions and must pay $14,000 of the $17,400 penalty to resolve the violations. The balance of the penalty is suspended pending compliance with the remaining administrative terms of the order.  
 
Property owners or contractors with questions about asbestos-containing materials, notification requirements, proper removal, handling, packaging, storage, and disposal procedures, or MassDEP asbestos regulations are encouraged to contact the appropriate MassDEP Regional Office for assistance.  
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories