PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton Avenue home was heavily damaged by fire on Friday night.
Multiple people driving by the structure at 206 Dalton called 911 report heavy flames coming from the front of the building, according to Deputy Fire Chief Neil Myers.
Firefighters responded at about 10:39 p.m. with four engine companies and a ladder company. Engine 2 found the front of the two-story residence fully involved with flame and spreading into the front yard. Shortly thereafter E-2 reported the lone occupant of the home had safely evacuated uninjured.
E-2 quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire that was quickly spreading inside the front windows and up to the roof line. E-3 provided a hydrant line to E-2 just as they were running out of water.
A backup hoseline was stretched to the building to assist with primary searches throughout all floors. The fire was deemed under control within 15 minutes and units remained on scene for 90 minutes overhauling the fire damaged areas and ensuring the fire was completely extinguished.
A cat was initially believed to have perished in the blaze but was found alive overnight by the fire watch crew on scene.
The home suffered extensive fire to the front side and into the first floor with a large portion of the home only suffering smoke damage.
A combination of the quick recognition and 911 call by passers-by, the 30-second response time from E-2 station to the fire and the hard work of all on duty crews certainly saved this home from further damage, said Myers.
The resident was able to find alternate living arrangements.
Police assisted in closing the eastbound lane of Dalton Avenue for the duration of the incident, County Ambulance provided EMS standby and Lenox Fire provided city coverage with its ladder truck.
The Fire Investigation Unit is currently investigating the cause/origin of the blaze.
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Taconic High Speaker Booted for Passing Out 'Political Material'
Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A guest speaker at Taconic High School was escorted out of the building after school officials said they passed around unapproved political material.
Principal Matthew Bishop sent out an email and voice message to the school community explaining some of what happened.
The event was an approved community outreach activity to write letters to veterans. The principal said the guest speaker had provided officials with the materials to be used for the activity, which were reviewed and approved.
"However, the guest speaker began distributing politically motivated materials that were not previously approved," Bishop said. "As soon as staff became aware of this, we immediately asked that guest speaker to leave. ...
"The unauthorized materials distributed today were not part of what was shared with us beforehand. This was a breach of trust and we wanted to be clear. The distribution of these materials is not endorsed by our school in any way."
Bishop did not identify who the speaker or what the unauthorized materials were. Some parents have pointed to a Turning Point USA representative and that the political material was a red wristband that says "We are Charlie Kirk."
An image posted to Facebook shows a group of male students showing off the bracelets with a woman wearing a shirt with a "Club America" logo on it. Club America is high school chapter of Turning Point, a conservative nonprofit founded Kirk.
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