WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA - An early afternoon fire on Superbowl Sunday caused significant damage to a first floor unit in a three-story, six-family dwelling just outside downtown West Springfield, and kept city firefighters on scene for two hours on January 12th.

Calls to 911 reporting the fire came in at 2:30 P.M., and heavy smoke and fire were visible from the first floor 'Delta' side when first due Engine 1 arrived two minutes after dispatch. Due to the fact the building was of balloon frame construction, two lines were stretched from Engine 1's pump as a precaution. The first line however was able to knock down the heavy fire venting from the first floor unit and get inside quick enough that the bulk of the fire damage was contained to that unit.

Companies then began to open up and check for extension due to the smoke condition throughout the apartment house. Once vent fans were operating, the smoke condition cleared out and while the first floor unit residents were displaced and had to be assisted by the property owner in moving to another unit, the rest of the building's occupants were able to return home later that day.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the WSFD Fire Investigation Unit.