Pittsfield — State Police investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Pittsfield fire officials have narrowed the cause of a home fire that killed three individuals early Saturday (March 16) as starting from a candle or smoking material in the master bedroom, according to Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington.
“There is no evidence of criminal activity,” the District Attorney said. “This remains under investigation, although at this time we do not consider this to be a suspicious fire.”
The Pittsfield Fire Department responded to the fire in Lake Onota Village in Pittsfield at 3:40 a.m. Saturday. Three persons died. Two residents of the home escaped the fire. One of them required medical treatment for non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.
The deceased were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Autopsies are expected to take place on Sunday or Monday.
The home sustained heavy fire damage. A nearby residence was partially damaged.
Conducting a joint and ongoing investigation into the incident are the Pittsfield Fire Department, the Pittsfield Police Department, members of the State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and detectives from the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.
