Holyoke Fire Department responds to the attempts to put out the fires on Roberto Celmente Street and High and Franklin streets.
Photo credit: Holyoke Fire Department
HOLYOKE — After two separate fires spread across the city on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2, local, state and national organizations are offering a hand to those who lost their belongings and homes.
With so many families being left without a home, many agencies have stepped in to help.
The Red Cross of Massachusetts, Salvation Army, Enlace de Familias, and other partners are supporting the displaced residents. The Department of Fire Services delivered a Rehab unit to both fires to support firefighters’ health and safety on the fireground.
Enlace De Familias, a Holyoke non-profit dedicated to strengthening the community and empowering families to forge their futures with confidence and hope, started a fire relief fund for the families affected by the fires.
As of press time, Enlace has received over 100 in-person donations and 756 monetary donations, raising over $58,000 to directly support families affected by both fires. Every dollar of these funds is being used for emergency needs including hotel stays, food, clothing and essential items.
To date, $11,000 has already been spent to ensure families are safe and supported.
What occurred
In a press release sent to Reminder Publishing, Holyoke Fire Chief John Kadlewicz and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine indicated both the two three-alarm and two-alarm apartment building fires in Holyoke this week appear to be accidental, but the exact causes remain under investigation.
On Dec. 1 at around 4 p.m., the Holyoke Fire Department reported and responded to a fire that took place at 131 Roberto Clemente St. The fire began in the basement and spread to the roof of the four-story apartment complex.
Local and state investigators are continuing their work in connection with the two-alarm fire on Roberto Clemente Street, which displaced 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 are looking at accidental factors and do not believe it was intentionally set.
On Dec. 2, another fire was reported and responded to by the Holyoke Fire Department at High and Franklin streets, another large apartment building.
The three-alarm fire broke out at 733 High St. 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 apparatuses battled the blaze, and crews continued to extinguish hot spots and conduct overhaul until after midnight.
As of publication, the residents of 45 apartments were displaced, but no injuries were reported.
Preliminarily, Holyoke fire investigators and State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office believe the fire originated in a first-floor bedroom. In this area, 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,” Davine said, “These devices are designed for temporary use and can’t handle the current drawn by too many appliances. Please use them sparingly and always plug them directly into a wall outlet, not another extension cord, power strip or adapter.”
Kadlewicz talked more about the impact of the fires and the relief fund, stating, “We’re relieved that no one was injured in this week’s fires, but this has been a terribly challenging week for the community. Our hearts go out to all the families who lost their homes and belongings. We ask anyone who wants to help to make donations to Enlace de Familias. This will ensure that your support goes directly to the people who need it most.”
Fire officials said the buildings’ alarm systems worked as intended at both fires, allowing all residents to escape safely.
Kadlewicz also highlighted the efforts of everyone who helped, stating, “Holyoke firefighters did a tremendous job under extremely difficult conditions. 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. And all of us want to thank our mutual aid partners, the Holyoke Police Department and Holyoke Emergency Management for their strong support.”
