A fire of unknown origin broke out inside a vacant house just before 6 p.m. Tuesday, destroying the building before firefighters could get it under control.

No one was inside the building, a 2½-story wood frame house, at the time of the fire and no one was injured, said Holyoke Fire Department spokesman Capt. Anthony Cerruti.

Main Street was blocked to traffic for several hours into the night as firefighters remained on scene.

Cerruti said the fire was reported at about 5:50 p.m., and when firefighters arrived on scene, heavy smoke was pouring from the building. Crews with hoses went inside in an attempt to attack the flames, but found the fire had already spread through the walls and ceiling and into the attic.

At that point, everyone was ordered out, and firefighters established a defensive perimeter. Within moments, flames were at the eaves and spread though the roof. Firefighters used an aerial ladder to spray water onto the roof from above, while hosing down the exterior walls. Large portions of the roof collapsed, as did the chimney. The building will likely have to be torn down, Cerruti said.

Cerruti said the house is owned by John Boulais, who also owns the car lot, Springdale Auto Sales, next door. It used to belong to Boulais' parents but has been vacant for about the last year, he said.

According to the Holyoke Assessors Office, the home was constructed around 1920 and had a valuation of $84,000.

Cerruti said the cause of the fire is unknown. It is considered suspicious only because it was an empty building, and no one was supposed to be inside. The electricity had not been turned off prior to the fire, he said.

Investigators with the Holyoke Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal’s office will go through the rubble and attempt to look for how it started, he said.

The home was located on Main Street between Springdale Park and Dean Technical High School.

By Patrick Johnson, The Republican 

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