CHICOPEE, Mass. — Smoking materials likely sparked a fatal fire in Chicopee that killed two people over the weekend in a home that had no working smoke alarms, officials said Monday.
The victims, both in their late 60s, have not been identified. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of their deaths, officials said.
Investigators believe that the fire started accidentally with smoking materials in the first-floor living room near the front left of the Hudson Avenue home early Saturday morning.
Investigators found no working smoke alarms in the home, and the first arriving firefighters did not hear alarms sounding, officials said.
Chicopee Fire Chief Daniel Stamborski said smoking materials are the leading cause of fires in the Bay State and the nation.
“On behalf of the Chicopee Fire Department, I again want to offer our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ family and loved ones,” Stamborski said in a statement on Monday.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Firefighters responded to 15 Hudson Ave. after receiving a neighbor’s 911 call at about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, officials said.
When crews arrived, they found the two-story, single-family home engulfed in flames, with heavy fire shooting through windows on three sides of the building, officials said.
The fire quickly went to two alarms. It took more than an hour for firefighters to bring the fire under control.
Firefighters found the two victims dead inside the home.
“Tragically, working smoke alarms were found at less than half of last year’s fatal fire scenes,” state Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in a statement.
“One- and two-family homes were the least likely to be protected by these vital safety tools,” Davine said. “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.”
The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation by Chicopee Police and Fire, State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office, and State Police assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s office.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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