image description — Firefighters knocked a blaze in a home undergoing renovation on Valentine Road on Wednesday.

Pittsfield Firefighters Knock Down House Fire

10:11PM / Wednesday, July 23, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters were able to knock down a blaze in an unoccupied house at 58 Valentine Road on Wednesday.

Firefighters responded at about 4:43 p.m. after multiple people reported seeing fire showing from the structure as they drove by.

It was unknown at that time if anyone was still in the building.

Deputy Chief Neil Myers said four engine companies and a ladder company responded and found flames coming from the right exterior of the single-story ranch and immediately stretched a hose line for fire attack. An off-duty sheriff's deputy was at the scene and had used a garden hose against the fire on the exterior of the home.

Engine 3 established a water supply and truck company completed a primary search while Engine 1 located and knocked the main body of fire down.

The home was found to be unoccupied, and the homeowner arrived approximately 10 minutes after firefighters' arrival. The fire was safely under control within that time with fire damage confined to a bathroom and the immediate exterior of the home. The remainder of the home suffered severe smoke damage throughout.

No fire or civilian personnel were injured.

The homeowner had recently purchased the house and was in the process of renovations with plans to move in within the month.

County Ambulance responded to the fire scene with Dalton and Lenox providing mutual aid coverage for the city for a short time along with eight off-duty firefighters. The Fire Investigation Unit is currently investigating the origin of the fire.

Tags: structure fire,

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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