Flowers were placed by neighbors following a deadly blaze at 64 Mill St. (Photo by Christine Charnosky, December 24, 2015).
Crews work to secure 64 Mill St. following a fatal fire. (Photo by Christine Charnosky, December 24, 2015).
WESTFIELD-Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni’s office released a statement on Saturday identifying the victim of the 64 Mill St. Westfield house fire as that of the homeowner, John R. Enko.
The statement said the fire, which had been jointly investigated by the Westfield Fire and Police Departments along with the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the district ttorney’s Office, was caused by a portable space heater which was located too close to combustibles.
State Fire Marshal Coan said, “There were no working smoke or carbon monoxide alarms in the home. No one thinks fire will happen to them, but we have lost nine people to fire in December. Please take a minute to protect yourself and your family this holiday season and make sure ALL your smoke and CO alarms are working.”
A crew from Complete Restoration Solutions worked on Christmas Eve to secure the building and clean up debris.
According to Thomas Barry, of Complete Restoration Solutions of Chicopee, a man got trapped in the bedroom on the first floor and couldn’t get out.
Crews work to secure 64 Mill St. following a fatal fire. (Photo by Christine Charnosky, December 24, 2015).
Barry said that neighbors told him the man was disabled. He said his crew found a couple of walkers.
The house, built in 1880, was all wood with minimal insulation, Barry said, “it burnt so fast. It’s a total loss.”
Neighbors called 911 at 7:16 p.m. Wednesday night, and when Westfield firefighters arrived on the scene three minutes later, they found the house engulfed, according to Devine said.
“The whole first floor was involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene,” Devine said.
The fire went to two alarms as mutual aid came in from outside the city.
This is Westfield’s second fire fatality this year. In July, 64-year-old Frederick A. Kupec died after being rescued from a fire at his home located at 23 Family Lane. A cigarette in a sofa had started that fire when the victim had apparently nodded off while smoking.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
