Fire crews quickly snuff out house blaze at Platinum Circle in Northampton
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NORTHAMPTON - Firefighters from four area communities quickly extinguished a fire Thursday afternoon that a city fire official said broke out in the kitchen of a Platinum Circle home.
At 12:26 p.m., firefighters responded to 42 Platinum Circle for a report that smoke was seen emitting from the two-story home's upstairs windows, according to Deputy Fire Chief David Gagne.
Christina and Belinda Pocsik, who live next door at 46 Platinum Circle, first noticed the fire on their way home for a lunch break when they heard smoke detectors going off inside the house and saw black smoke rising from the home's windows.
After trying to get in through the front door, which they said was locked, the two women went around to the backyard and called 911 after seeing flames coming out of the home's rear windows, they said.
"We saw the grandmother's car in the driveway, and she baby-sits the kids, so our primary concern was making sure there wasn't anyone still inside," Belinda Pocsik said.
Soon after, Gagne said fire engines from the Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg and Westhampton fire departments converged on the home, and firefighters worked quickly to gain access to the house and extinguish a fire in the kitchen.
"I have to say, our Florence crew did an excellent job," Gagne said. "They went right in there and knocked that fire down in about 20 minutes. They did outstanding work."
After entering the home through the front door, Gagne said firefighters smashed out several of the home's front windows to allow heat to escape, and Easthampton's aerial ladder was extended over the roof in case the fire spread to the home's upper floor.
"I don't want to estimate the damage to the house, but I think it is salvageable and can be fixed," Gagne said. "The family should be back in there soon."
According to records at the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, the home has belonged since 2002 to Thomas J. Estes and Kristin Edmonds.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Gagne said.
Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.
