Pittsfield Firefighters Contain Structure Fire on Holmes Road

10:14AM / Tuesday, January 21, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters battled a structure fire on Holmes Road, facing challenges when a frozen hydrant temporarily delayed their efforts to extinguish the blaze in an occupied home.

The Pittsfield Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 120 Holmes Road on Jan. 20 at 4:57 p.m. after multiple 911 calls reported smoke coming from the eaves of the building.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered moderate smoke coming from the second-floor windows of the two-story residential structure. Due to plywood covering several windows, it was initially unclear whether the building was occupied. Crews entered the home and found heavy smoke and high heat on the second floor, with blocked hallways complicating access to the fire.

Efforts were briefly hampered by a frozen hydrant, but firefighters were able to secure an alternate water source. Crews used a combination of interior and exterior attacks to bring the fire under control within 15 to 20 minutes. No occupants were found inside, and the owner arrived at the scene unharmed.

Firefighters remained on-site for several hours to fully extinguish the fire, while Pittsfield Police assisted with traffic control. Investigators continue to examine the cause of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Tags: structure fire,

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Neal Tours Berkshire Innovation Center as Pittsfield's Tech Economy Grows

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:38PM / Thursday, October 15, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. —Congressman Richard Neal visited the Berkshire Innovation Center Thursday to highlight $735,000 in federal funding secured for a new cybersecurity training and testing facility.

"The number one job of the federal government is to provide for the security of its people. I mean, we should never lose sight of that, whether it's China or Russia, every single day there are these belligerents that are attempting to infiltrate national security here in the United States, and we should not be naive about it," Neal said. "I mean, we can have an argument about proportionality; we can do a lot of different things, but not to miss the point of what they're trying to do every day."

The new cybersecurity facility will provide regional manufacturers and businesses with research and design equipment, specialized lab space, and training facilities and is planned to be housed in a to-be-redeveloped space across the street from the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC), located at 45 Woodlawn Ave.

The derelict property, formerly owned by General Electric, is now known as the William Stanley Business Park.

The project is a $7.2 million dollar investment from the state, $5.2 million from the tech collaborative, $2 million from bond funding secured by Neal, and $1 million that will be split into two phases: $500,000 for BIC to begin building and $500,000 for Myrias Optics to start production in Pittsfield, said Mayor Peter Marchetti.

BIC Executive Director Ben Sosne said manufacturers often highlight the need for help with cybersecurity, particularly in meeting the security requirements necessary to conduct business with General Dynamics and other major contractors.

Collaborators in the field and the public sector have recognized the need that has only grown since technology has advanced and is a great career opportunity, Sosne said.

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