Pittsfield Basement Fire Displaces Residents, Claims Pet Birds

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A basement fire on South Onota Street displaced two residents and caused extensive damage to their home Saturday night. While the residents and their dog escaped safely, several pet birds perished in the fire.
 
The Pittsfield Fire Department responded to 70 South Onota Street around 9:30 p.m. after receiving a report of an active basement fire. Firefighters arrived to find thick smoke pouring from the front door and flames visible through a first-floor window. Crews quickly entered the basement through a rear entrance and extinguished the fire within 10 minutes, preventing further spread.
 
The basement sustained significant fire and water damage, while the upper floors were affected by heat and smoke. The home is currently uninhabitable, and the Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Tags: structure fire,   

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Pittsfield to Conduct Phase Two of Water System Flushing

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield will begin phase two of its spring water system flushing on Monday, April 28, following the completion of phase one. Water mains citywide will be flushed through hydrants to remove pipeline corrosion products. Flushing will occur Monday through Friday each week, excluding holidays, between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Phase two is scheduled from April 28 to May 2.

The flushing is expected to affect the following areas:

  • Starting at Unkamet Park Drive heading west to North Street, working north to the Broadway and Lakeview streets neighborhood.
  • Starting at Plastics Avenue moving west on Dalton Avenue, including the Allendale and Allengate neighborhoods, then moving west onto Tyler Street into the Morningside neighborhood, including Springside Avenue, pushing west to North Street.
  • Lincoln and Fenn streets, Silver Lake, Wendell Avenue, and the surrounding vicinity, pushing west to North Street.
  • South Mountain and Tamarack roads, Dan Fox Drive, and south to the Pittsfield-Lenox line.

Flushing may cause temporary localized discolored water and reduced service pressure in the immediate vicinity. The city states that treatment and disinfection levels in the system will be maintained. Residents experiencing discolored water are advised to run their water for a short period to clear it before use. Persistent discolored water or low pressure should be reported to the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.

The city indicates that flushing is a standard procedure for maintaining water quality in the distribution system.

 

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