The fire was reported shortly before 3:30 a.m. at 493 Kings Highway.
May 4, 2011 - West Springfield - Republican staff photo by Michael S. Gordon - House fire aftermath at 493 Kings Highway Wednesday morning.This updates a story originally posted at 6 a.m.
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Careless disposal of smoking materials was the cause of a blaze that displaced five people from a Kings Highway duplex early Wednesday.
No injuries were reported in the blaze, reported shortly before 3:30 a.m. at 493 Kings Highway. A cat perished in the blaze, Fire Chief William Flaherty said.
“The first floor tenant heard the smoke detector going off and he went up and alerted the second floor tenant, Flaherty said.
All five people - two families - were out of the building before firefighters arrived on scene, Flaherty said.
The fire broke out in a second floor porch and extended into the kitchen and roof areas. There is also smoke and water damage on both the first and second floors, Flaherty said.
Damage to the property is estimated at about $150,000, Flaherty said.
The American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter, which has been taxed of late by an unusually large number of building fires in Western Massachusetts, is providing those displaced in the Kings Highway fire with food and clothing.
“They think they have a place to stay,” said Paige Thayer, deputy director of chapter support.