Swatting Incident Forces Berkshire School Lockdown

12:24PM / Tuesday, October 28, 2025Print Story | Email Story

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire School was placed on lockdown on Monday following a suspected swatting incident.

At 1:29 p.m., the Police Department received a call on the nonemergency line reporting someone had called the school threatening to shoot it up.

The department called mutual aid from State Police and Great Barrington, Egremont, and New Marlborough police. Following a full sweep of the school, no threats were found, strongly suggesting this was a swatting incident, according to a press release from the Sheffield Police Department.

Swatting is when someone makes a threat that prompts a strong police response, i.e., a SWAT team.

The investigation remains ongoing and based on the findings there is no credible danger to the school or public.

Tags: school threat,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Great Barrington Fire, Police Respond to Chimney Fire

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
02:48PM / Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Fire Chief Scott Turner called for mutual aid as soon as he saw flames.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Firefighters made quick work of a chimney fire on Tuesday afternoon and two police officers aided the occupant in escaping the building.

Fire Chief Scott Turner said the blaze at 205 North St. was reported about 12:38 p.m.

"When I arrived on scene, we had a small amount of flames coming out of the eaves of the roof over by the chimney for the wood stove, and then we had light smoke conditions on the second floor," he said.

Police Officers Andres Huertas and Elias Casey were first on the scene and immediately entered the single-family home to find the occupant was on the second floor.

They helped her out of the building, Turner said, "they did a great job."

The chimney is a metal chimney and burn marks could been seen where it meets the eaves on the side of the building.

North Street is a narrow residential way and firetrucks from Alford, Egremont, Monterey, Richmond, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge were parked along nearby streets. Scene support was provided by police, Southern Berkshire Ambulance, and National Grid.

View Full Story