PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A fire in the parking lot of B&G Restaurant Supply on Friday night is being investigated as arson.
Three trucks responded to Eagle Street building around 10:15 p.m., said Deputy Chief Neil Myers.
"B&G Restaurant Supply came in as a possible structure fire," he said. "The first units on the scene found a large, basically a pile of brand-new ovens on fire in the parking lot."
Seven ovens were damaged, with an estimated value of $50,000. The fire was extinguished in about five minutes, and there were no injuries.
Myers said the cause of the fire is unknown, but it is considered suspicious as there were no ignition sources.
The blaze did not cause damage to the building but sent heavy smoke into the air. Pearl Street was closed to traffic.
Responding units included Engine Three, Car Two, the truck company, Engine One, and Engine Six.
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Final Summary of PHS Investigation Released
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A School Committee-initiated investigation into allegations of misconduct by Pittsfield High School staff members was unable to conclude that an administrator shared a nude image with students on social media.
On Thursday, the final executive summary was released. It is focused on administrator 2, who is alleged to have shared a photograph of female genitalia on her Snapchat account.
"During this investigation, we sought to determine the validity of allegations about PHS Administrator #2 sharing a photograph of female genitalia with PHS students on her Snapchat account," the 11-page report reads.
"Notwithstanding the information we obtained from persons we interviewed and the documents and materials we reviewed, we are unable to conclude with confidence that on her Snapchat account (or possibly through her other social media accounts), PHS Administrator #2 knowingly or intentionally sent to or knowingly or intentionally shared with minors or students a picture of female genitalia."
The investigation was based largely on second- and third-hand accounts. The report states, "It appears that what has circulated in the community may be a screenshot of a photograph allegedly posted by PHS Administrator #2 on her Snapchat account."
Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Pittsfield High's former dean of students, Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.
The report states that the Pittsfield Public Schools' investigation into allegations regarding the photograph was complicated by another set of pictures that "confused" the allegations.
"In early March 2023, PHS administrators conducted a preliminary inquiry of two photographs of PHS Administrator #2 wearing a shirt with a low-cut neckline while at her home, which a student related to her through marriage had posted on his own Snapchat account. PPS administrators spoke with PHS Administrator #2 about the photographs but did not consider these photographs as warranting a report to DCF," it reads, explaining that on viewing the photographs, the firm agrees.
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