The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
Firefighters extinguish a blaze at 101 Beech St. Sunday night.HOLYOKE – About 35 residents of a 10-apartment building in downtown were displaced Sunday night after the back porches of the building caught fire.
The fire at 101 Beech St. was first reported at abut 8:30 p.m. when someone at least a mile away at Croiser Field saw smoke and reported it. The fire department investigated and found the back of the five-story brick building on fire, said Fire Department Lt. Thomas Paquin.
“When we got there it was blowing out windows in the building and it got up in the cock loft (attic) and in the upper floors,” Paquin said.
The Fire Department cut holes in the roof and sprayed water from outside and in the exterior. They could be seen working on the roof as well. By 9:30 p.m. , the blaze was mostly extinguished.
The cause was not immediately known. A number of roads including parts of Beech and Dwight streets were closed as firefighters battled the blaze, he said.
The management company and the American Red Cross were called to assist because no one was allowed to return to the apartments.
Gregory Virgilio, manager of the building owned by Phoenix Properties, stood by the building talking to residents and trying to arrange temporary housing for the tenants.
He said eight of the 10 apartments were occupied at there were about 35 adults and children living in the building.
Preliminary reports from the Fire Department showed that damage was limited to the back porches and the roof where holes were cut. Virgilio said he was hoping the roof could be patched and other repairs could be made quickly so tenants can return within a few days.
He and Paquin said everyone living in the building did escape safely.
“I'm told one of the residents had the presence of mind to get everyone out,” Virgilio said.
Zulier Marquez, 9, who lives on the third floor with her mother and father said she was concerned that the family's pet birds may have been hurt in the fire.
“We heard a knock on the door, a knock on the door and a neighbor said let's go there's a fire,” she said.
Aliah Rivera, 14, said one of her friends lives on the second floor. Her family also got out safely.
“She said it was on the porch in the back. She saw a couch on fire,” she said.