Pittsfield Officer Recognized for Saving Lives from FireBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:32AM / Thursday, September 05, 2024 | |
 Damage cannot be seen from the street but the No. 11 side of the circa 1880 building was affected. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Police Officer Michael Doyle is credited for saving lives when he detected an early morning fire over the weekend.
"It is very rare that a first responder observes a possible structure before it is even detected by residents, but on August 24th Pittsfield Police Officer Michael Doyle was in the right place at the right time," the department wrote on its Facebook page.
Doyle was on patrol Saturday when he noticed smoke coming from a residential area east of downtown around 1 a.m. Police say that recognizing the potential for significant danger, he alerted dispatch and drove to the area of Fenn St. and Third St., exited his cruiser, and trailed the origin of the smoke to the rear of 11 Third St.
"He observed that the ground floor exterior of the residence was engulfed in flames and immediately alerted both Dispatch and the residents of the duplex-style building. All 7 occupants, who were all reportedly sleeping, had exited the building when the Pittsfield Fire Department arrived minutes later," a release from the PPD reads.
"(Pittsfield Fire Department) ultimately extinguished the fire, which caused the residents to arrange for alternative shelter. Although the affected residents suffer an amount of grief and property loss, Officer Doyle's actions undoubtedly prevented any catastrophic loss of life or property. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Pittsfield Fire Department."
Damage cannot be seen from the street but the No. 11 side of the circa 1880 building was affected.
"Although the affected residents suffer an amount of grief and property loss, Officer Doyle's actions undoubtedly prevented any catastrophic loss of life or property," the police wrote.
Crews on Engines 1 and 3, Car 2 and Truck 2 could see the large column of smoke as they traveled down Fenn Street. Engine 6 was then requested en route.
When the fire department arrived, there was heavy fire on the exterior/left side of the building extending up into the attic space of the 2 1/2-story wood-frame duplex. E3 crew stretched a handline rapidly to the seat of the fire and began extinguishment.
Truck 2 was assigned to begin ventilation and check for extension into the home. E1 secured a water supply to E3 and assisted E3 and E6 with fire suppression and opening up the attic. E2 was assigned as the RIT team.
Salvage covers were deployed to lessen water damage to the occupants' belongings.
The main body of fire was knocked down within an hour and required extensive overhaul in the walls and attic space to finally put all the fire out. Damage was confined to the No. 11 side of the circa 1880 building with no damage to 13.
There were no firefighter or civilian injuries associated with the fire. All tenants found alternate housing for the night but were cleared to return in the morning by the city's Health Department.
The fire remains under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit with early findings pointing to unknown causes.
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