Holyoke fire official IDs what saved lives in two major fires
HOLYOKE — Firefighters say working smoke detectors made the difference between life and death in two recent Holyoke apartment fires that left about 70 people homeless.
Both fires broke out in older buildings where flames can spread quickly, making alarms critical for survival, said Capt. David Rex of the Holyoke Fire Department.
The first call to 131 Clemente St. Dec. 1, came around 4 p.m. as an alarm, meaning smoke detectors were working, he said. A 911 call followed soon after.
When crews arrived, flames were pouring from a second-floor apartment. The stairs were already damaged, and doors had been left open — allowing the fire to spread, Rex said.
“If you open a door and see fire, close it to keep flames contained,” he said.
The building, dating to the late 1890s or early 1900s, had no sprinkler system and many hidden spaces behind walls where fire could travel. Under today’s codes, sprinklers are required in new construction, Rex noted.
“Unfortunately, older buildings that haven’t been updated don’t have that protection,” Rex said.
The building, did however, have a monitored alarm system, which alerted firefighters quickly.
State investigators determined the fire started when someone carelessly discarded smoking materials, he said.
Franklin Street
The Dec. 2, a fire at the corner of 27 Franklin St. and High Street began with an overloaded power strip, Rex said.
The first call came at 8:30 a.m. as an alarm, then was quickly upgraded to a working fire.
When crews arrived, flames were venting through two blown-out windows, showing the blaze had burned inside for at least 10 to 20 minutes before the glass failed and dry wood from the more than century-old building gave the fire room to grow.
Boots and trousers sit on the floor of the Holyoke Fire Department garage, ready for an emergency call. Dec. 17, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Prevention and safety
After covering the major Holyoke fires — and hearing about the recent deadly ones in West Springfield and Northampton — Rex stressed the importance of life-saving measures: working smoke detectors.
“The reason we had no civilian injuries in these fires is because alarms worked,” he said.
Other tips for survival include closing the bedroom doors at night to slow a potential fire’s spread and to provide time in case the alarm sounds.
Rex said people should call 911 immediately when an alarm sounds.
“A fire doubles in size every 30 seconds,” Rex said. “Delays make fires worse, if one person is using an extinguisher, make sure someone else is calling 911.”
Another practical tip: Keep essentials — keys, phone, wallet — in one spot, just in case of an emergency.
And Rex said people should not overload power strips and should unplugging devices when away.
“Power strips are meant for charging electronics like phones, laptops or tablets — not for running space heaters, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, electric heaters or mini fridges," Rex said.
“Plugging in too many high-powered devices draws too much electricity, melts the plastic casing and can start a fire,” he said.
Holyoke Fire Department Capt. David Rex walks through the garage where trucks are parked ready for the next call. Rex said that they receive roughly 12 calls a day. Dec. 17, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Aging housing stock
Holyoke’s aging housing stock also makes firefighting complex, Rex said.
Many buildings share basements and roofs, lack detailed plans and contain hidden spaces where flames can spread. Crews often need extra staffing to tear down walls and track hot spots.
Modern risks add to the problem: Homes packed with electronics strain old wiring.
Fire officials only “hold” a building for investigation after a fire if they suspect arson, Rex said.
In those cases, investigators may need a warrant and work with police and the state fire marshal’s office, he said.
Once the investigation is complete, the building is released to the owner and the city’s Building Department, which decides whether it can be repaired or must be demolished.
Rex said the building at Franklin and High street may be restored, but the future of the building on Clemente Street is unclear.
Many apartment buildings in Holyoke are owned by out-of-town landlords, so management companies often handle those decisions, he said.
“The fact that so many people were displaced — that’s what we look at,” Rex said.
The saving grace in the fires this month was that everyone got out safely and into shelters, he said. Holyoke’s emergency system worked well, and the community showed strong support, Rex said.
Losing a home so close to the holidays was especially tough. Firefighters saw Christmas trees in some apartments.
Emergency management crews didn’t just fight flames — they helped families recover, he said.
“It was amazing,” Rex said. “By the end of the second day, almost every family had a place to stay. It brings almost tears to my eyes. The outpouring of help was incredible.”
Fire trucks are going up in price and are usually custom built to serve each department. In Holyoke, there are a large number of fire hydrants, so the need for each truck to have its own water source isn’t necessary, according to Capt. David Rex. Dec. 17, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Looking back and ahead
Some residents compared the recent fires to blazes in the late 1970s and early ’80s, when landlords were accused of setting fires for insurance money.
But Rex said this month’s two fires were accidental and just happened to occur in the span of two days. The only similarity was their size and the amount of damage they caused, he said.
Rex said the Holyoke’s fire prevention team works year-round, visiting schools and senior centers and posting seasonal reminders online about ways to avoid falling victim to fire.
“If we get one person to think about safety, that’s one less accident,” Rex said.
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