BCC to Hold Talk on State Fire Marshall History

11:32AM / Monday, May 05, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s Fire Science Program welcomes guest speaker Joshua Stanley to present "The History of the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's Office: Transforming Tragedy into Progress" on Tuesday, May 6 at 6 p.m.

Local firefighters, BCC students and the public are invited to attend.

The free talk will be held in Melville Hall, Room 317, located on BCC's main campus at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. It will also be available online. To register for the Zoom session, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/fire-history.

Shanley's presentation demonstrates how historic fires, explosions and building collapses in Massachusetts shaped the creation and evolution of the State Fire Marshal's Office. Case studies and lessons learned show how tragedy led to changes in fire prevention, investigation and public safety across the Commonwealth.

"The history of firefighting in Massachusetts is a colorful one. So much progress has been made, especially in the areas of firefighting technology and training. Josh Shanley shines a light on this fascinating topic, and we are so pleased to be able to host this talk," said Daniel Garner, BCC Adjunct Faculty – Fire Science.

Shanley is a media specialist with the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, Department of Fire Services. He is an experienced emergency management professional, author and educator with over 30 years of experience in public safety, including roles as a firefighter-paramedic, emergency management director and consultant. He was a firefighter/paramedic in Northampton and Amherst for a combined 25 years, currently serving on the Exercise Support Unit for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

As the author of several historical works, including "Cold War Massachusetts," "Northampton Fires and Firefighting" and "The Connecticut River Valley Flood of 1936," Shanley explores the legacy of civil defense, disaster response and emergency planning. With advanced degrees in emergency management, education and business, Shanley has a unique perspective that blends historical insight with practical experience in modern emergency management and resilience planning.

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Arrest Warrants Issued for Pittsfield Shooting

Staff reportsiBerkshires
05:29PM / Monday, August 24, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police were granted arrest warrants for two people suspected to be responsible for the Aug. 16 shooting on Francis Avenue.

Jason Wright, 41, and an unnamed juvenile are charged with assault and battery, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and possession of a gun without an FID card or license to carry.

On Aug. 16, near 211 Francis Ave., three individuals suffered gunshot wounds and were all transported to Berkshire Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. This is one of four gun violence incidents on city streets this summer.

Police say two of the individuals who suffered gunshot wounds are the subjects of the arrest warrants.

"I first want to commend the Pittsfield Police Department on solving this case in just eight days. They, along with members of the Task Force who provided support when needed, worked around the clock to identify those responsible," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue wrote on Monday.

The DA said he understands that Pittsfield remains on edge, and said he is fully committed to providing resources, including funding for overtime and State Police detective resources, to support the Pittsfield Police Department as it continues its active investigations into the June 18, Aug. 4t, and Aug. 16 shootings.

"No stone will be left unturned. If you bring violence and guns to our county, you will be held responsible to the greatest extent of the law," he wrote.

The first arrest warrant issued is for a juvenile. The juvenile is charged with:

Two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a firearm
Attempted murder
Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
Possession of a firearm in commission of a felony
Possession of a firearm without an FID card/license to carry
Possession of ammunition without an FID card/license to carry

The second arrest warrant is for Jason Wright, 41, with a last known address on Woodlawn Avenue. Wright is charged with:

Attempted murder
Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a firearm
Two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a Firearm
Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
Possession of a firearm in commission of a felony
Possession of a firearm without an FID/LTC
Possession of ammunition without an FID/LTC

There have been four gun violence incidents in Pittsfield since mid-June, leaving one person dead and a total of seven injured. Additionally, a Lanesborough man is facing multiple charges for allegedly shooting a gun near homes and a road while intoxicated on Sunday.

On June 18, a person died after being shot in the area of Tyler Street and Pleasure Avenue, and another person was injured. Following an extensive investigation, police on June 23 had an arrest warrant out for Terry Martizna, 35, on a charge of murder.

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