EASTHAMPTON — A house fire at 51 Hannum Brook Drive Tuesday afternoon caused an estimated $175,000 in damage and displaced its residents, according to the Easthampton Fire Department.
The homeowners reported hearing lightning strike the house while firefighters battled the blaze, though an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire remains underway. No injuries were reported and the fire is not considered suspicious, according to the Easthampton Fire Department.
The fire department issued more details Wednesday, stating that because of the extreme heat, extra manpower was called in to help. The city’s firefighters received mutual aid from Northampton, Holyoke, Westhampton, Southampton, South Hadley Fire District #1, Westfield, Amherst and Westover Air Reserve Base.
The first crews to arrive reported heavy smoke from the roof of the single-family home and were faced with “extreme heat and limited visibility” on the second floor. Firefighters found the fire to be above the ceiling of the entire roof area, according to the Easthampton Fire Department. The fire was extinguished in about 25 minutes and firefighters remained on scene until about 7 p.m.
Homeowners Kim Madden-Lajoie and Lindsey Lajoie and their family members are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. Easthampton firefighters expressed gratitude to residents who provided refreshments as they struggled to remain hydrated.