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.
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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. click for more
Police Chief Thomas Dawley will retire next month after 24 years with the Pittsfield Police Department, and the mayor will appoint his successor.
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Last weekend, LaBeau raced in the Mount Zion Snocross National race in Ironwood, Mich., the first of eight races in the national circuit series.
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Brown hopes to one day work in a lab, feeding their strong interest in scientific research and making a positive difference in the world.
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Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center.
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