A group from Adams participated in a RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) taught by Joe Nedder's Cross St. Associates fire training group this weekend. The 2-day, 16 hour class was hosted by the Cheshire Fire Department and focused on the skills needed to respond to a firefighter mayday situation. Although there was some classroom, the majority of the time was spent on intense, physically demanding drills and scenarios.  The class had 36 attendees from 7 Berkshire town and cities.

The replacement for Engine 1 has begun physical production...two years after the initial order was placed. Work began researching and meeting with numerous venders towards the end of the pandemic. That event and the global supply chain issues caused production to get delayed. In fact, the new norm for custom orders is the the 2-3 year range now. While the delay was disappointing, we are now very excited to see the new apparatus begin to take shape. Initial completion from the Ocala, FL factory is estimated to be some time in January with some additional fitting-out to be completed at the dealer, Greenwood in North Attleboro, MA. 

The soon to be 30 year old KME Renegade engine, despite having it's share of costly repairs of late, performed admirably over the years and was well liked by many members. In fact, the engine designed to replace it was designed with the many of the KME's positive traits in mind. 

​Follow the New Engine 1's construction on it's own page here.

The Adams Fire Department was dispatched just before 5am July 5th for a reported car fire. On arrival a Jeep was well involved and extinguished with one line. Luckily, the vehicle was not in close proximity to a home. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.

After being rained out its last appearance, the Alerts were able to show it's antique parade cart to a very well attended parade in Pittsfield Thursday morning. The history of the parade goes back to 1824 or even earlier and is quite interesting.

​From it's website; "After research from our Friends at Pittsfield Community Television we now know that the parade dates back to 1801.

The Pittsfield 4th of July Parade has an historic reputation dating back to 1824, when the procession consisted of Revolutionary War survivors, patriots, politicians and horse-drawn carriages. The parade was held off and on by various citizen groups until 1947 when it was taken over by the Pittsfield Permanent Firemen’s Association. Under the firemen, the parade grew in size and popularity but was discontinued in 1976. 

In 1977, a small group of volunteer citizens obtained $2,000 in seed money from the City of Pittsfield and held their first parade in 1978. Over the years, this independent, non-profit organization-the Pittsfield 4th of July Parade Committee, Inc.- has grown in size, spirit, and determination, and with it, the parade has grown in size, quality, and popularity. This year will mark 195 years since that first procession"

By Tammy Daniels
Courtesy of iBerkshires.com
07:09PM / Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Images courtesy of: iBerkshires; Berkshire Eagle; North Adams 911

The former Berkshire Dance Theater went up in flames on Wednesday afternoon. 
 
Fire Chief John Pansecchi said he had some idea of where the fire started but did not wish to speculate until the state fire marshal could confirm the cause. 
 
The blaze was contained fairly swiftly but there were a number of hotspots firefighters were still dealing with an hour later.
 
Firefighters were alerted to heavy smoke coming from the roof of the building shortly before 5 p.m. The second floor of the long-vacant structure was fully involved, according to images posted to iBerkshires' Facebook page. 
 
"The first couple of guys got here they pulled a line out. The first few guys that were here really worked their tails off," said Pansecchi, adding he was surprised how short staffed they were at first because of the holiday. 
 
Cheshire and North Adams sent help and Savoy came down to cover the station. Northern Berkshire EMS provided rehab. 
 
Firefighters were working in difficult conditions — hot muggy weather in the 90s and a torrential rainstorm that turned Commercial Street into a river right after the call came in. 
 
"It might have been a little bit of a blessing, it kind of cooled us off a little bit," the chief said. "But the guys who were working and pulling hose, they took a beating."
 
One of the first firefighters on the scene was evaluated by ambulance personnel and released. 
 
Commercial Street was closed between Prospect and Glen streets and the Park Street intersection and traffic detoured for almost two hours.
 
National Grid disconnected electricity to the property and Berkshire Gas was called to ensure no gas was connected.  
 
About 70 National Grid customers were without power from Glen Street south along Bellevue Avenue but it's not clear if this had anything to do with the fire. 
 
The dance studio had been owned by Susan Hakes for years until selling the property in 2007. The property consists of a house at 32 Commercial, also vacant and dilapidated, and the two-story studio in the rear. It sits at the corner of Liberty Street and Commercial. 
 
The fire chief said the fire was mainly on the north side of the studio and did not affect the house. 
 
The town did a tax taking on the property in 2017 and the case is currently in Land Court. 
 
Barbara St. Pierre, longtime friend of Susan Hakes, had tears in eyes as she watched the firefighters and the smoke coming from the property.
 
She had 30 years of good memories there, she said. She'd called Hakes, now living out in Las Vegas, to tell her the sad news. 

More photos of this fire here