City Hall - City of Pittsfield

10/20/2026

Check out the new mini-pitch at Crane Park!

Thank you to Pittsfield Parks & Recreation, U.S. Soccer Foundation, Massachusetts Youth Soccer and Mill Town Foundation for your collaboration on this work!

10/20/2026

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is looking for your input with the Community Health Equity Survey. Check out the post to access the survey link.

Share your story and help us address barriers to health in your community: take our 2026 Community Health Equity Survey. Your feedback's anonymous, and we'll use survey results to make better informed decisions about programs and resources where you live: https://mass.gov/HealthSurvey

10/20/2026

The Pittsfield’s Homeless Advisory Committee is sponsoring a Housing Resource Fair. The fair will be held at the Center (formerly known as the Christian Center), located at 193 Robbins Avenue on Thursday, October 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The fair will offer a variety of resources and assistance to those in the community who are seeking help with accessing stable and secure housing. The event is free and open to the public.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from local housing organizations and agencies, learn about affordable housing options, and receive information on resources for rental assistance. Participating agencies include ServiceNet, Second Street Second Chances, Elder Services, Upside413, Ad-Lib, and the Pittsfield Housing Authority.

The city’s Homeless Advisory Committee sponsors these resource fairs periodically at different locations in the city with the aim of connecting residents with local organizations. The goal of the fair is to build stronger community relationships and ensure people in need receive the support and resources they deserve.

10/19/2026

The City of Pittsfield, in conjunction with engineering consulting firm Kleinfelder, has contracted Flow Assessment Services (FAS) to conduct Sewer System Smoke Testing for the purpose of locating sources of unwanted water entering the sanitary sewer system as required by the Department of Environmental Protection.

During smoke testing, field crews blow air and non-toxic white smoke into the sanitary sewer system in the street and monitor where smoke escapes the system. The smoke, under pressure, will fill the main line as well as any connections and then follow a path of any leak to the ground surface, quickly revealing the source of the problem. Only enough force to overcome atmospheric pressure is required, and smoke should escape from building roof vents.

This work will begin on Wednesday, October 21 and continue over the next several months. Prior to the start of work, field crews from Flow Assessment Services will distribute door-to-door notice approximately 24 to 72 hours in advance of smoke testing within a designated area.

In addition, the city will be sending out notifications through the Mass Notification system prior to the start of work in a specific neighborhood. To sign up for Mass Notifications, residents should visit https://www.pittsfieldma.gov/alert-signup and the select the alerts they want to receive. An account will need to be created to receive alerts.

When crews appear in a neighborhood, they are expected to be in the area for a few hours however, each actual smoke test setup takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Residents are not required to be present at home during this test. When residents receive notice that smoke testing will take place, they should:

➡Check to see that all drain traps under basins, washing facilities and floor drains contain water.
➡Flush toilets.
➡Run or pour water into all drains, including unused fixtures and floor drains.

If there is an individual within a household or business who has respiratory problems and/or mobility limitations, or for any additional questions about this work, please contact the city’s Engineering Department at (413) 499-9327 or Flow Assessment Services at (888) 311-9799.

For additional resources about smoke testing including frequently asked questions, please visit the Sanitary Sewer Smoke Testing page on the city’s website (https://www.pittsfieldma.gov/1051/Sanitary-Sewer-Smoke-Testing).

10/19/2026

The Pittsfield Fire Department has been monitoring social media challenges involving isopropyl alcohol and open flames. These occurrences have caused severe burn injuries in children, making close supervision, safe storage of chemicals, and proactive fire safety education essential for prevention.

Although these trends have been around for quite some time at a national level, we have recently seen an emergence within our community.

What the current trends involve:
Several dangerous online challenges circulating on platforms like TikTok encourage children to ignite isopropyl alcohol or use it to create visual “effects.”

➡“Fire breathing” stunts where kids hold isopropyl alcohol in their mouths and blow it toward a flame, attempting to mimic performers
➡Drawing shapes with isopropyl alcohol and lighting them on mirrors or surfaces to create fire patterns
➡Pouring isopropyl alcohol on clothing or skin and igniting it, hoping it burns in a pattern before reaching the skin

These activities are extremely hazardous because isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable, vaporizes quickly, and can ignite unexpectedly. The Pittsfield Fire Department warns that injuries from such activities can be life altering, with long term scarring, respiratory damage, and risk of fatality.

The Pittsfield Fire Department emphasizes that these types of incidents can easily cause house fires, endangering entire households.

Why children are especially vulnerable:
Younger people often:
➡Underestimate consequences and overestimate control over fire
➡Are influenced by viral content designed to provoke risky behavior
➡Lack understanding of how quickly alcohol vapors ignite and spread.

Fire prevention strategies for parents and caregivers:
These strategies are grounded in the warnings from Pittsfield Fire Department and other agencies across the country who have responded to these emergencies:

1. Control access to flammable household products.
➡Store isopropyl alcohol, nail polish remover, and other solvents out of reach or in locked cabinets.
➡Keep lighters and matches secured and monitored.

2. Monitor online activity and discuss digital risks.
➡Fire officials recommend parents monitor what children are viewing on social media and talk openly about dangerous trends.
➡Emphasize that “just because you see something online doesn’t mean it’s a good idea”

3. Teach fire safety basics early.
➡Explain that isopropyl alcohol burns fast, invisibly at times, and unpredictably.
➡Reinforce that no fire stunt is safe, even if it appears controlled in videos.

4. Model safe behavior with household chemicals
➡Demonstrate proper use of cleaning products and explain why they must never be used near heat sources.
➡Avoid performing any flame related tasks in front of children that could be misinterpreted as “easy” or “safe.”

5. Create a home fire safety plan
➡Ensure working smoke detectors on every level.
➡Practice stop drop and roll, safe evacuation routes, and how to call emergency services.

10/19/2026

**1:03p.m. Update: Water service is now restored.**
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A water main break has occurred near 243 Churchill Street. Water service will be unavailable in the nearby area while repair work is underway.

Please note there may also be the presence of discolored water in the surrounding area. When water service returns, you may experience discoloration in your water. Please run cold water in your faucets until the water clears up. If discoloration does not improve, please contact the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.

Additional updates will be shared as they become available.

10/14/2026

The Water Department will be replacing a fire hydrant on Spadina Parkway today and will need to temporarily shut off water service beginning at noon. Water service will be unavailable while the work is underway.

When water service returns, you may experience discoloration in your water. Please run cold water in your faucets until the water clears up. If discoloration does not improve, please contact the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.

10/13/2026

Pittsfield Parks & Recreation has announced that the application deadline for the 80th annual Halloween Parade has been extended to Monday, October 19, 2026. The parade will be on Friday, October 30, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Tyler Street.

The application packet and additional parade information is available through the Parks & Recreation page on the city’s website under the Halloween tab (www.pittsfieldma.gov/590/Halloween).

10/13/2026

Congratulations to the Pittsfield Fire Department Inspection Bureau for recently being recognized by the American Red Cross for their efforts in installing smoke detectors in homes that resulted in the saving of 4 lives in 2025!

Thank you for your dedicated service to the City of Pittsfield!👏👏👏

Executive Director Nia Rennix and volunteer Sky Goodrich presented an award to the Pittsfield Fire Department for their partnership in our Home Fire Campaign. Partnerships like this one help us reach more households across Massachusetts, keeping people and homes safe.