CHICOPEE, MA - An early afternoon fire burned the roof off of an occupied two-and-a-half story wood-frame duplex in Chicopee on January 31st, displacing several tenants and requiring a second-alarm assignment to knock down the fire.

Chicopee crews were alerted to the fire at 2:00 P.M. at 15-17 Sitnik Ave. and arrived to find a moderate smoke condition from the second floor and attic area. Companies mounted an interior attack on the fire, but it took possession of the attic and members where withdrawn from the building when the fire broke through the roof in several areas. Defensive operations were then used with three hand lines, Engine 1's apparatus mounted deck gun and Tower 1's master stream to knock down the main body of fire to the point where crews could reenter the building to chase hot spots and overhaul the building.

One dog was rescued from the fire building and reunited with its owner who, along with the other displaced residents, was assisted by the Red Cross. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the CFD and the State Fire Marshal's office.