Both of the apartment building fires that displaced 70 families in Holyoke this week appear to be accidental but the exact causes remain under investigation, according to city and state fire officials.
Holyoke Fire Chief John Kadlewicz and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said the buildings’ alarm systems worked as intended at both fires, allowing all residents to escape safely.
Tuesday’s three-alarm fire broke out at 733 High Street but soon extended to properties on High and Franklin streets as snow blanketed the region.
As many as 50 firefighters and about a dozen engines, ladder trucks, and other equipment battled the blaze, and crews continued to extinguish hot spots and conduct overhaul until after midnight.
As of Wednesday, the residents of 45 apartments had been displaced.
“We’re relieved that no one was injured in this week’s fires, but this has been a terribly challenging week for the community,” said Kadlewicz.
“Holyoke firefighters did a tremendous job under extremely difficult conditions,” he added. “They faced heavy fire with zero visibility at times, with snow and ice making their work even harder. This fire could have spread even further and threatened even more homes, and I want to recognize their extraordinary performance in containing it.”
Preliminarily, Holyoke fire investigators said they believe the fire originated in a first-floor bedroom where they located a power strip plugged into a multi-plug adapter.
“This investigation is still active, but we know that overloaded power strips and extension cords are a common cause of electrical fires,” said Davine. “These devices are designed for temporary use and can’t handle the current drawn by too many appliances.”
Local and state investigators are also continuing their work in connection with Monday’s two-alarm fire on Roberto Clemente Street, which displaced an additional 26 families. They identified the area of origin as a second-floor apartment but have not determined the exact cause. Based on an examination of the scene and witness interviews, they said they re looking at accidental factors and do not believe it was intentionally set.
Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, in western Massachusetts, along the Connecticut River.
The Red Cross of Massachusetts, Salvation Army, Enlace de Familias, and other partners are supporting the displaced residents.
Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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Topics Massachusetts
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