PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An early morning fire destroyed a Robbins Avenue duplex, leaving two people without homes.

 

Fire Captain Raymond Tart said the cause is still be investigated and one firefighter was sent to the hospital.

 

The call in around 4 a.m. Monday morning and firefighters responded to the blaze to find heavy fire on both sides of the home.

 

"The deputy chief who was on the scene, Deputy [Daniel] Garner, he had heavy fire showing from the front and the back up toward attic," Tart said.

 

"They made an interior attack and then they eventually pulled the guys out in time because the roof collapsed."

 

The road was blocked off for hours and one firefighter suffered dehydration and was taken to Berkshire Medical Center.

 

"I believe is going to be released soon if he hasn't been released yet," Tart said.

 

Tart said the American Red Cross was called in to help the two occupants on one side of the duplex find temporary housing. The two had apparently been in the home when it started but escaped without injury. The other side was vacant. 

 

The fire was a two-alarm, bringing in 18 city firefighters to the scene. The Dalton Fire Department sent a crew of five as well and Hinsdale was on scene with a rehabilitation unit.

 

The blaze posed challenges to firefighters because of the heavy fire and roof collapse, but otherwise Tart said the putting it out went "pretty smooth."