Chicopee fireplace leaves two residents, firefighter injured: Three pets die

CHICOPEE – Two residents and a firefighter have been injured and at the least 15 folks have been displaced in a Christmas Eve blaze in a multi-family house constructing in Willimansett.

A canine and two cats died within the fireplace, however firefighters have been in a position to rescue one other cat from the constructing, State Hearth Marshal Peter Ostroskey mentioned in writing.

The fireplace broke out shortly after midday within the three-story constructing at 759 Chicopee St. When firefighters arrived at about 12:07 p.m., flames have been exhibiting from the home windows they usually have been informed one particular person was trapped inside, Chicopee Hearth Chief Daniel Stamborski mentioned.

Firefighters entered the constructing and rescued the resident, who was critically injured. The sufferer was handled on the scene after which dropped at an space hospital, he mentioned.

A second occupant and one firefighter have been additionally damage within the blaze. Each have been additionally taken to the hospital by ambulance for therapy of accidents which might be much less severe, Stamborski mentioned.

“Our hearts exit to the households affected by in the present day’s fireplace,” Stamborski mentioned. “They’ve misplaced their house, and their lives have been upended at what ought to have been a time for pleasure.”

The fireplace additionally badly broken the constructing, which has storefronts on the primary flooring and flats on the higher flooring, leaving it uninhabitable, he mentioned.

Residents are being assisted by the American Crimson Cross of Western Massachusetts, he mentioned.

The reason for the hearth is underneath investigation by the Chicopee Hearth Division, Chicopee Police Division, Massachusetts State Police Hearth and Explosion Investigation Unit and Hampden County District Legal professional Anthony Gulluni’s Arson Unit, Ostroskey mentioned.

Chicopee Avenue was closed between Yvonne and Meadow streets till about 2:30 p.m. whereas firefighters labored to extinguish the flames, police mentioned.