Pittsfield Lifeguard Update for 2026 Summer Season

03:00PM / Friday, July 10, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Be advised that lifeguards will not be present to monitor the beaches, water, and related activities like swimming at Burbank Park (Onota Lake) this summer.

The City of Pittsfield began a search for qualified lifeguards in March of 2026. After several months of unsuccessful attempts to fill the lifeguard positions, the city is unable to provide lifeguarding for the 2026 season.

Swimming in an unsupervised, natural body of water is inherently dangerous. Any person choosing to swim does so at their own risk. Swimmers should also be aware of boaters and other vehicles that utilize the water and use caution when swimming in the lake.

Onota Lake is a natural body of water with risks that include, but are not limited to:

Sudden and unexpected changes in water depth.
Cold water temperatures that can impair swimming ability.
Underwater hazards such as rocks, logs, and vegetation.
Unpredictable currents.
The lake bottom is not inspected or maintained for safety.

CHILDREN AND WEAK SWIMMERS SHOULD NOT USE THE SWIMMING AREA WITHOUT CLOSE ADULT SUPERVISION. NO ONE SHOULD SWIM ALONE.

There are no emergency services stationed at this park. In an emergency, call 911.

Signage will be available in various areas located throughout Burbank Park notifying the public of this message.

The city will continue to keep the job posting for lifeguards open and encourage qualified candidates with the proper certifications to apply. Interested applicants can find more information here: Careers | Job Application

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

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.

15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports11:35AM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive.

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour.

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children. The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation. One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue.

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out.

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release.

View Full Story