No Drought Conditions in Berkshire County

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BOSTON — Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared that Berkshire County remains at a level 0 drought designation.
 
As outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, Level 0-Normal Conditions?status warrants continued monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies, and technical outreach and assistance to the affected municipalities if drought conditions return.?
 
Tepper added that following several months of above normal rainfall, the Islands Region will be downgraded from Level 1-Mild Drought to Level 0-Normal Conditions.
 
All other regions of the state remain in Level 0-Normal Conditions.  
 
"After several months of experiencing drought conditions, I am pleased to declare that the Islands region has returned to normal. However, we need to continue practicing water conservation methods to enable full recovery and minimize impacts of future droughts across the State,"?said Secretary Tepper.?"The Healey-Driscoll Administration thanks those who contributed to our drought resiliency efforts. We must take an all-of-government approach to address these challenges as we experience more extreme and frequent weather events due to climate change."
 
The declaration is the result of recommendations made by the state's Drought Management Task Force, which is composed of state and federal officials, and other entities.? 
 
The Drought Management Task Force will not meet until drought conditions set in again. State agencies will, however, continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across Massachusetts, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal, and local agencies prepare additional responses that may be needed in the future.

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Pittsfield Firefighters Knock Down Morningside Blaze

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Fire Department knocked down a two-alarm blaze in the Morningside neighborhood in less than an hour on Friday. 

Just before 3 p.m., the department received a report of a fire at 25 Pine St. Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Garner said he arrived at the scene first and saw heavy fire showing from the rear of the more than 100-year-old home. 

"We just went to work, pretty much," he explained. 

"Because of the heavy volume of fire and the potential for a high number of occupants, I called a double alarm, which called all available Pittsfield firefighters directly to the scene. And I would say the fire was knocked down and under control within an hour." 

Eight occupants were evacuating the home when firefighters arrived, and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. People, including the occupants, stood on the sidewalk and watched the scene unfold. 

When iBerkshires arrived, firefighters were on the ladder, extinguishing the top level of the home from the side and rear.  

There were five fire engines and one ladder truck. Hinsdale also came to assist, and Lenox and Dalton were called for standby. 

Garner believes the building is salvageable and repairable, but recognized that the family won't be able to stay there tonight. An extended family appears to live in the home. 

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined; the Fire Investigation Division was on site. The Red Cross will provide assistance to the residents of the home. 

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