By Jenn Smith
The Berkshire Eagle
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The recent rash of city fires is taking its toll on the Pittsfield Fire Department.
The Bartlett Avenue fire that displaced more than 40 people on Saturday kept personnel and equipment on the scene for more than 24 hours, from about 12:20 p.m. on Saturday afternoon to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Just prior to the fire breaking out on Saturday, a number of Pittsfield and other area emergency response personnel were participating in a countywide crisis response drill and analysis.
Then, on Monday, just after 8 p.m., a kitchen fire broke out at 233 Dewey Ave., causing $10,000 worth of damage and displacing a five-person family from their home.
“Physically, yes, our guys are tired,” Pittsfield Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said on Wednesday morning.
For Saturday’s Bartlett Avenue fire, the fire chief said that the department called back all its off-duty personnel to help. All but 15 of the 90-member department assisted. Those who didn’t had excused absences, such as being out of town for family reasons.
“We talk about personnel, but we have tired equipment too,” said Czerwinski. The department is currently down two trucks in need of repairs.
“If we had another big fire today, we’d have no reserve apparatuses. We’d have to call in mutual aid,” he said.
Prior to being alerted to Monday night’s fire on Dewey Avenue, Czerwinski met with firefighters and investigators in the afternoon to do an incident analysis and response critique, a common procedure.
The fire chief continued, “We’ve had some minor injuries along the way. And though there was about 24 hours in between wrapping up on Sunday afternoon and Monday night, you’re certainly not going to get a full restful sleep. Those past few days have been physically and emotionally demanding, and your mind’s constantly racing about whether you could have done better and what you could do next time. It all takes a toll.”
In addition to having working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and alarms, renter’s or homeowner’s insurance for fire protection, and an evacuation plan, there are other “common sense” things people can do to help minimize fire damages.
“Close your doors,” said the chief. In case of a fire, a closed door could act as a protective barrier from smoke and debris inhalation and can also prevent a fire from being vented and oxygenated.
Czerwinski also suggests having a home fire extinguisher, an emergency contact that includes someone outside of the immediate area of residence, and to make a habit of promptly leaving a building whenever a fire, smoke or carbon monoxide alarm sounds.
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