A third floor hallway at the Washington House shows evidence of the fire which forced the evacuation of residents late Monday evening. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – Fire investigators are still attempting to determine the cause of a three-alarm fire that extensively damaged a wing of the Housing Authority’s Washington House apartment building Monday night.
That investigation appears to be focused on electrical wiring in a third floor apartment. State Trooper Michael Mazza, assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office inspected the building yesterday and, according to Housing Authority officials, is returning today to continue that process which also involved state and city electrical inspectors.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik was also at the fire scene yesterday while investigators were determining the cause and the extent of damage to the four-story structure.
“The damage is pretty significant,” Knapik said. “It’s a testament to the professionalism of city firefighters, police officers and Housing (Authority) staff that they got everyone out without major injury.”
Housing Authority Executive Director Dan Kelly said three tenants were transported to Noble Hospital for treatment of injuries and fire records indicate that one police officer was treated for smoke inhalation.
Kelley said that the authority maintains a list of tenants who need assistance getting out of the building during emergency evacuations when the elevators are out of service. That list is kept inside the call box located at the main entrance of the apartment building.
Kelley said that the greatest damaged occurred on the third floor of the north wing in apartment 309 through 314.
“Right now 56 units are still vacated,” Kelly said this morning. “The electrical inspector allowed us to turn on the lights, but would not allow the tenants to return.”
Kelly said the authority is working to find alternate housing for the displaced tenants, contacting hotels and other Housing Authorities for assistance.
Knapik said that many of the displaced residents are currently staying with family members and that 14 to 16 residents will require accommodations at other locations.
Kelley said that Mazza is returning today to further inspect the fire scene and that the insurance adjuster will also be appraising the damage estimated at $1 million by city officials.
“The roof is intact,” Kelley said, “but we have not gone into the apartment where the fire started to see if there is structural damage (to the steel). There is also water damage to three units one the first floor and three units one the second floor.”
Kelley said that the authority is waiting for fire investigators to release the scene to begin cleaning the damaged apartments.
“We have Service Master waiting for the apartment to be released,” Kelly said. “We’re hoping to get some tenants back into their apartments by Monday. The apartments, 309 through 314, were severely damaged and it could take months to repair those units.”
