Dalton Holds Community Sessions on Public Safety Building

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:07PM / Sunday, August 17, 2025Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — Since last August, public officials said the basement of the Town Hall is inadequate to house its police station, and now the town will demonstrate why through several community outreach initiatives.

QR Code to Public Safety Facility Survey. More information at the bottom of the article.

From tours of the deteriorating precinct, information sessions with the Public Safety Facility Committee, the development of a Facebook page, to a survey, the town is engaging the community to keep them informed of the situation and develop a solution.

During numerous meetings, Police Chief Deanna Strout demonstrated the decaying condition of the current location of the department including mold, mice, water damage, plumbing issues, damage to cells, and more.

For the last year, the committee has been coordinating the department, communication center, and town to determine the future of the department and communication center.

Listed on the town website is a timeline and links to several documents including the indoor air quality report, air quality assessment, sewage backup, and the draft space needs assessment by the town’s consultant Jacunski Humes Architects LLC.

Throughout August, the Public Safety Facility Committee will hold information sessions to provide community members with an update on its progress thus far. The first was held last Wednesday and the next on Monday at 1 p.m.

These sessions will include presentations on the current state of the department, a question-and-answer session, and a review of prior assessments of the station and possibilities for the future.

Dates for the information sessions are as follows:

Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Dalton Senior Center
Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Dalton Library
Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. at the Dalton Senior Center

Community members can see first hand the state of the police station during tours of the precinct which will take place on: Tuesday, Aug. 19, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 23, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m

Additionally, citizens are asked to complete a survey, which will help the town understand residents’ priorities surrounding the proposed facility.

The brief survey includes questions that rate the department and communication center’s level of service and explores residents' understanding of the station's needs.

It also requests what information they require to make an informed decision about the proposed facility, their level of support for the facility, and the reasons behind their opinions.

Tags: community forum, Dalton Police, police station,

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Sunday Fire on Dalton Division Rd. Fire Damages Home, Closes Road

Staff reportsiBerkshires
12:21PM / Monday, August 31, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters knocked down a kitchen fire on Dalton Division Road in less than an hour Sunday night.

Around 8:55 p.m., the Fire Department responded to a possible structure fire at 622 Dalton Division. The building's owner had reportedly notified a neighbor that his house was on fire, and the neighbor called 911.

Fire crews saw smoke coming from the structure; the blaze was under control in 45 minutes, and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries, according to a report by Deputy Chief Daniel Garner.

The home, though, suffered significant damage.

"The building owner was the only occupant. The owner had alternative lodging for the night as the house, although salvageable, is not fit for occupancy at this time. There is no damage estimate at the time of this writing," Garner wrote on Monday.

"The first-floor kitchen and second-floor bedroom sustained fire and heat damage. The remainder of the home sustained various amounts of smoke and water damage.

Police closed Dalton Division Road to through traffic for some time during the incident. A provided picture shows broken windows on the home and signs of internal fire.

PFD responded with Engines 6, 3, 2, and 5, Tower-1, and Car-2.

Upon arrival, E3 assisted the Ladder company with ventilation and overhaul/salvage. E5 responded as a Rapid Intervention Crew, and E1 responded briefly as a precaution, but the fire was ultimately declared under control in 45 minutes.

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