NORTHAMPTON — Firefighters extinguished a second-story fire at a North Street residence on Sunday.
The blaze began around 11:30 a.m. at 182 North St. while one resident, 23-year-old Jared Belden, was still inside the building. Belden was able to escape, and the fire was put out in about 15 minutes, according to the Northampton Fire Department. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Belden, a renter on the second story, said he was in his air-conditioned room when he smelled smoke. He said he came out of his room and saw smoke coming from the corner of the house, near the porch.
“I basically just ran outside,” he said, sitting on the steps of Czelusniak Funeral Home across the street, his head in his hands.
Fire engines responded from Northampton, Easthampton and Amherst, with Holyoke Fire Department covering headquarters, Assistant Fire Chief Jon Davine said.
Davine said the Fire Department issued a second alarm to ensure that more firefighters came to the scene. With temperatures soaring during a regionwide heat wave, he said it was important to have firefighters taking shifts battling the blaze.
“It’s hot,” he said, sweat pouring down his face. “We try to be mindful of our people’s safety, too … Just constantly rotating them out.”
The 91-year-old, two-family house is owned by Paul Mardas. Efforts to reach Mardas were unsuccessful on Sunday.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.