image description — A shed at Soldier On went up in flames when the battery on an e-bike being charged overheated. The shed is about 20 feet from the main building.

Pittsfield Shed Fire Caused by Battery 'Thermal Runaway'

10:21PM / Wednesday, June 04, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A shed on West Housatonic Street burned up on Wednesday evening when a battery overheated.

Deputy Chief Daniel Garner said the call came in at 7:59 p.m. for a reported structure fire at Soldier On.

Engine 1 found the large, open-air shed, about 500 square feet in size, fully involved with fire. The crew advanced a hoseline to attack the blaze and Tower 1 arrived with a second line to protect the main Soldier On building from fire impingement and radiant heat exposure.

Engine 3 shifted tasks to checking for potential inured bystanders. Engine 5 returned to cover the city.

The shed fire was under control within 10 minutes and determined fully extinguished within 30. The main building, which stands 20 feet from the shed, sustained minimal damage to windows and roof soffit trim.

The Fire Investigation Unit arrived and determined cause as a lithium ion (Li-ion) battery that powered an e-bike. The bike was found charging, and an event occurred which started a "thermal runaway" of one or more Li-ion fuel cells.

This rapid-fire progression quickly spread to the entirety of the shed and threatened the exposed building. PFD credits Soldier On's occupants for quickly calling 911 and promptly following their evacuation protocols.

There were no reported injuries from this fire and the scene was turned over to the facility directors.

Pittsfield Fire offers this link to this National Fire Protection Association page with e-bike and scooter safety tips.

Tags: structure fire,

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Pittsfield Committee Recommends Scanlon for City Audit

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:30AM / Thursday, August 06, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— After the bid for a new auditing company came back over 30 percent higher, Pittsfield will stick with Scanlon and Associates.

On Tuesday, the Auditing Services Evaluation Committee voted to advance Scanlon to the City Council for an independent audit. CliftonLarsonAllen also responded to the bid, but came in costing $120,000 more.

"I have to go with saving money for the city. I mean, the discrepancy is too much of a difference," committee member Karen Kalinowsky said.

"The city could have use for that difference over the next three years."

This process was prompted by Rule 40 of the council rules and the City Charter, where in any year the City Council votes to hold a procurement process for an independent certified public accountant or firm to audit Pittsfield's books and accounts, the city must, through its Finance Committee with the assistance of the purchasing department, solicit requests for proposals or invitations for bids before June 1.

The council in March recommended that the purchasing agent draft a request for proposals and put it out to bid.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, who has been vocally in favor of the independent audit for years, said the city doesn't have to follow a bidding process for the professional service, "We are doing this so the public knows that we're being professional, and a looking for other options, looking at what the best options are, and comparing them based on what they can offer and what the cost is."

Board member Kathy Amuso said both CLA and Scanlon have equitable reviews with high recommendations. Especially considering the budget crisis Pittsfield is in, she moved to recommend Scanlon to the full council.

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