PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters pulled one man from flames after the apartments above Tahiti Takeout caught fire early Thursday morning.

 

The department responded to the blaze shortly before 4:30 a.m. and upon arrival there were heavy flames shooting out of the back of the building. Firefighters were told there was one person unaccounted for and launched an interior search, finding one man in the flames.

 

"Upon arrival they found heavy fire in the back of the building. Our crews found out some of the occupants were outside of the building  and one occupant was unaccounted for. Our crew went in and made a rescue," Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said. 

 

Lt. Michael D'Avella and probationary firefighter Jarrett Robitaille pulled the man from the building. He was then transferred to Berkshire Medical Center and later transported to Worcester for further treatment for burns. The other six occupants in the apartments were unharmed.

 

The department then fought the fire that gutted the second floor.

 

"It took us a little bit to get it down but it was knocked down through aggressive interior firefighting. We did have to open the roof. We did have to call mutual aid today from the towns of Dalton and Lenox," Czerwinski said. 

 

The cause of the fire is still unknown but the chief says it started on the upper floors, and not from the restaurant. The restaurant did sustain water damage.

 

"We believe it started on the second floor. There is little damage to the first floor and the kitchen area. We have no reason to believe it was a kitchen fire that extended upward,"  he said.

 

The state fire marshal is on scene with Pittsfield Fire and Police investigating the blaze. The fire was reported early in the morning and Wahconah Street was closed in the section surrounding the restaurant. That section is expected to remain closed throughout the day while investigators are on scene. 

 

"Our guys did a great job this morning. There was a rescue right off the bat and that is always a challenge for any crew at 4:30 in the morning," Czerwinski said.