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Chicopee fire that killed 2 started accidentally from smoking materials, officials say
A house fire that claimed two Chicopee residents’ lives Saturday is believed to have accidentally started from smoking materials.
An early-morning house fire that claimed two Chicopee residents’ lives Saturday started with smoking materials, officials said in a statement.
“On behalf of the Chicopee Fire Department, I again want to offer our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ family and loved ones,” Chicopee Fire Chief Daniel Stamborski said in the statement. “I also want to remind all our residents that smoking materials are the leading cause of fatal fires in Massachusetts and the nation, especially among older adults. If you must smoke, please don’t do it in bed or when you’re drowsy or impaired — and no one should smoke in a home where medical oxygen is in use.”
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At about 2:15 a.m., the Chicopee Fire Department responded to a neighbor’s 911 call about a fire on Hudson Avenue, according to the statement. On arrival, firefighters found flames shooting through windows on three sides of the two-story, single-family home.
After fighting the fire for more than an hour, firefighters found two people inside the home who were both pronounced dead at the scene. Both victims were in their late 60s and were the only occupants of the home, the statement said.
The names of the two victims have not yet been released. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of their deaths, according to the statement.
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After examining the scene and interviewing first responders, investigators believe that the fire started accidentally from smoking materials in the first-floor living room, the statement said.
Officers from the Department of Fire Services’ Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit found no working smoke alarms in the home, and the first firefighters on the scene did not hear any alarms sounding, according to the statement.
“Tragically, working smoke alarms were found at less than half of last year’s fatal fire scenes,” State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in the statement. “One- and two-family homes were the least likely to be protected by these vital safety tools. Please take a few minutes today to test your alarms to be sure they’re working properly. And if you need help testing, installing, or replacing your alarms, contact your local fire department. Many communities have programs that can provide them free of charge.”
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