Crews battle Chicopee house fire

CHICOPEE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - A fire tore through a home in Chicopee, which resulted in one police officer suffering an injury and being sent to the hospital.

Flames and smoke were visible early Friday morning on Dorrance Street in Chicopee. A house on fire left neighbors shocked and saddened.

“It’s kind of stunning the way it dropped to alarms and lights in your bedroom, window, and smoke,” said Maureen, a neighbor to the home.

At least 15 Chicopee firefighters, EMS personnel, and police arrived on-scene shortly before 3:30 a.m. Flames could be seen shooting out of the roof and the right-hand side of the house. A police officer, who arrived before fire crews, suffered injuries and was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated.

Chicopee Deputy Fire Chief Douglas Sanford told Western Mass News that the rapid response made a difference.

“Every fire we’re on, we want it knocked out as quick as possible, so we bring as many assets as we need to do that,” Sanford said.

He told us the flames were put out within 40 minutes, but firefighters were challenged as they were not able to fight the flames from the inside. Sanford praised the smoke detectors for helping the two occupants and two dogs escape.

“They’re extremely important in every situation. They’re your first warning to get out of the house,” Sanford added.

Neighbors, like Maureen, know the house well. The owner is her husband’s cousin and is grateful she made it out unharmed. She told us she has never seen anything like this before.

“Been here 34 years, and I cannot recall. I remember there was a fire one or two streets over maybe two years ago, but other than that, no,” Maureen said.

However, she expects many will pitch in to assist.

“We have great neighbors and we are very lucky to be here,” Maureen added. “Her daughter is here helping out to figure out what the next steps are, but we’ll do whatever we can to help her out too and I know everybody else here will as well.”

No one else was injured during the fire.

As for the cause and origin of the flames, those remain under investigation.

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