Pittsfield Basement Fire Displaces Residents, Claims Pet Birds

10:28AM / Monday, February 10, 2025Print Story | Email Story

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A basement fire on South Onota Street displaced two residents and caused extensive damage to their home Saturday night. While the residents and their dog escaped safely, several pet birds perished in the fire.

The Pittsfield Fire Department responded to 70 South Onota Street around 9:30 p.m. after receiving a report of an active basement fire. Firefighters arrived to find thick smoke pouring from the front door and flames visible through a first-floor window. Crews quickly entered the basement through a rear entrance and extinguished the fire within 10 minutes, preventing further spread.

The basement sustained significant fire and water damage, while the upper floors were affected by heat and smoke. The home is currently uninhabitable, and the Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Tags: structure fire,

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ServiceNet Hopes to Open Pittsfield Warming Center in Nov.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Thursday, October 15, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A warming center is again planned in the First United Methodist Church for the cold months.

During last week's Homelessness Advisory Committee meeting, Erin Forbush, director of shelter and housing at ServiceNet, reported that they hope to begin operating the nighttime center in mid-November.

It would operate from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the church, which abuts The Pearl shelter. Forbush said the warming center would be the same program as in the past.

"Again it's a warming center, so there's no cots or beds, but it is certainly a place to come in, and we'll have a hot coffee or cocoa ready for folks," she explained.

"It will be a place to be inside and warm."

This year, ServiceNet hopes to secure full funding from the state so the warming center can open on Sundays at 5 p.m. In years past, they found that Sunday is the most challenging day for unhoused individuals because many community spaces aren't open.

The First Housing Resource Center, managed by Hearthway, opened earlier this year as a low-barrier option for people to rest and access amenities. It is open seven days a week, and Forbush said if people could come to the warming center on Sundays at 5, there would be a fuller day of coverage.

"It does still leave a little gap for Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, as spaces like the library close at five, but we know that Sundays were something that people were looking for," she said.

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