Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Training for Public Safety Officials

05:56PM / Thursday, July 17, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fire, police, and emergency medical professionals in Berkshire County are invited to a hands-on training on lithium-ion battery fire response hosted by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority.

The workshop, led by a lithium-ion battery expert with International BAE Systems, covers how to recognize battery failures, prevent thermal runaway, and protect crews from toxic gas exposure and reignition hazards. This training follows a serious fire event at the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority where a battery pack repeatedly ignited for hours and had to be removed from the bus.

This session is recommended if your department responds to fires involving electric vehicles, scooters, or stored battery packs.

The training will be held on Wednesday, July 30, from 10 to 4 at BRTA's maintenance facility at 67 Downing Parkway.

The cost is free for public safety personnel but attendees are asked to register at 413-499-2782, Ext. 2892, accem.scott@berkshirerta.gov or justin.rowland@berkshirerta.gov. Registration is also being taken here.

Tags: fire safety,

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BVNA Nurses Raise Funds for Berkshire Bounty

06:38AM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Nursing Association members of the Berkshire Visiting Nurses Association raised $650 to help with food insecurity in Berkshire County.

The nurses and health-care professionals of BVNA have given back to the community every holiday season for the last three years. The first year, they adopted a large family, raised money, bought, wrapped and delivered the gifts for the family. Last year, they sold raffle tickets and the money raised went to the charitable cause of the winner.

This year, with food insecurity as a rising issue, they chose to give to Berkshire Bounty in Great Barrington.

They sold raffle tickets for a drawing to win one of two items: A lottery ticket tree or a gift certificate tree, each worth $100. They will be giving the organization the donation this month.

Berkshire Bounty seeks to improve food security in the county through food donations from retailers and local farms; supplemental purchases of healthy foods; distribution to food sites and home deliveries; and collaborating with partners to address emergencies and improve the food system.

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