Christmas Eve Fire Burns Pittsfield Home to Ground

PITTSFIELD, Mass. —  A fire that started on Christmas Eve burned a Partridge Road home to the ground while its occupants were out.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries but the house, which is largely charred down the foundation, is a total loss and remains under investigation.

The Fire Department initially responded around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday night to a call about a blaze at 301 Partridge Road. Fire was showing through the roof of the single-story structure when firefighters arrived and a second alarm was called.

"So that brought the other remaining two engines and then that also brought the Lenox and Dalton fire departments to cover Pittsfield," Chief Thomas Sammons said on Tuesday.

"And then Hinsdale came down to rehab."

It took about an hour and a half to extinguish the blaze and a fire watch was left on the scene. About 1:30 a.m. Christmas morning, the fire apparently reignited, said Sammons.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

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.