A fire Sunday which gutted the rear of Building 5 at Powder Mill Village was caused, officials report, by smoking materials which were discarded in a dried out potted plant. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – A fire which destroyed one of the buildings at Powder Mill Village and left 21 families homeless was caused by smokers who “discarded their butts into a dried out potted plant in a plastic pot” according to the state fire marshal and the city fire chief.
The fire at the Union Street high density apartment complex was first reported by a resident at 1:49 p.m. Sunday who said that there was a fire on a back porch of Building 5. An automated alarm followed immediately.
Deputy Chief Patrick Egloff, leading the initial response of two engines, the tower truck and an ambulance, reports that while crossing the river he saw “thick black smoke coming from the direction the apartment complex and immediately called a 2nd alarm.”
A column of black smoke points the way to a fire at Powder Mill Village on Union Street.(Photo courtesy of Danny Swearingen)
When the firefighters arrived at the complex, Egloff reports, “the fire had fully involved the rear of the building and vented out all rear windows and through the roof.”
Firefighters requested police assistance with one group of residents who initially refused to evacuate and Egloff, having been advised that no others were believed to be inside, elected to conduct an exterior attack on the fire.
Egloff reported that the fire had spread to the buildings on either side of Building 5 and called a third alarm. A West Springfield engine and a Holyoke ladder truck responded to the 126 Union St. fire to help and a city reserve engine and the brush truck also were committed to the fire.
The Southwick and Agawam fire departments each sent an engine to the fire station to maintain fire protection for the city.
Red Cross officials responded to assist the 21 displaced families.
The fire was investigated by city police, firefighters and state troopers assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office.
The Fire Marshal and the Fire Chief reported jointly on Monday that the fire was caused by smoking materials which had been improperly disposed of in a flower pot.
State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostrowskey said “Not only are plastic pots flammable, but the chemical fertilizers in commercially purchased plants are also flammable. Cigarettes can smolder for a long time, especially outdoors where a breeze can easily fan them back into life or keep them burning.”
Fire Chief Mary Regan said “It is important that smokers use appropriate containers for cigarette butts. A can filled with sand or water is best for outside use.” She went on to say that other recent fires in the city have been caused by “improper disposal of smoking materials”.
