WESTHAMPTON – A fire broke out at an apartment on Tipping Rock Road on Wednesday from a suspected lightning strike, according to Westhampton Fire Chief David Antosz. 

An inspector from the fire marshal’s office believes the fire was caused by lightning, which struck a garage that had been turned into an apartment. There were no injuries, but Antosz said there was “substantial damage” to the first floor of the apartment.

The Westhampton Fire Department responded to the call at around 7 p.m., along with the Hatfield, Huntington, Chesterfield, Williamsburg, Easthampton, Northampton, Chester, Montgomery, Cummington, and Southampton fire departments.

Antosz said Westhampton is a non-hydrant town, so it relies on a tanker shuttle for its water, which is why so many other towns responded to the call. 

“I just want to say how beneficial it is to have the mutual aid,” said Antosz. “Without them it could’ve been a lot worse.”

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