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 Cannabis Cultivator Plans Dispensary

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:57PM / Friday, December 26, 2025

PITTSFIELD. Mass. — A cannabis cultivator and manufacturer has opted to sell its products on site in Downing Parkway.

The Zoning Board of Appeals this month approved a special permit for J-B.A.M. Inc. to operate a dispensary out of its existing grow facility. There will only be changes to the interior of 71 Downing Parkway, as there will be less than 500 square feet of retail space in the 20,000-square-foot building.

"My only concern would be the impact, and really would be traffic, which I don't think is excessive, the odor, if there was one, but that doesn't seem to be an issue, and I think it's a good location for a marijuana facility," board member Thomas Goggins said.

The company's indoor cultivation site plan was approved in 2019, an amendment to add manufacturing and processing in 2021, and on the prior day, a new site plan to add a retail dispensary was approved by the Community Development Board.

J-B.A.M. cannabis products are available in local dispensaries.

The interior of the facility will be divided to accommodate an enclosed check-in area, front entrance, retail lobby, secure storage room, offices, and two bathrooms. There are 27 parking spaces for the facility, which is sufficient for the use.

No medical or recreational cannabis uses are permitted within 500 feet of a school or daycare, a setback that is met, and the space is within an industrial park at the end of a cul-de-sac.

"The applicant desires the restructuring of the business to be more competitive in the industry with the ability to grow and sell their own cannabis products so they have more financial stability," Chair Albert Ingegni III, read from the application.

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