The fire originated in the blue dumpster on the left, on the side of the building facing North Elm Street. The burn mark seen on the wall behind the dumpster extended at least to the edge of the roof. (Photo by Peter Currier)
WESTFIELD- A fire broke out at the Westfield Electroplating Company (WEPCO) Friday afternoon resulting in damage to the exterior of the building.
The fire is believed to have started in one of the dumpsters in the front of the building facing North Elm Street just before 12:33 p.m. Westfield Deputy Fire Chief Pat Kane said that the cause of the fire is not immediately clear. It is under investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s Office in conjunction with the Westfield Fire Department.
Kane said one person was injured in the fire. A WEPCO employee was trying to extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived, received an unspecified injury and was treated at Baystate Noble Hospital.
The blaze started in the dumpster and climbed up the exterior wall before getting onto the roof. Firefighters battling the blaze were able to prevent it from spreading any further and causing significant damage. The damage to the building was entirely to the exterior.
Traffic on north Elm Street was congested slightly as emergency vehicles needed to stage in the right lane of the road. The scene was cleared just before 2 p.m..
