Investigators continue to probe the cause of the fire.
WESTFIELD - Westfield State University students safely escaped a fire early Friday morning that heavily-damaged their off-campus home on Church Street.
The fire in the triple-decker at 42 Church Street was reported shortly before 2 a.m. It started on the rear porch of the second floor and was discovered by a female tenant living on the third floor, said Fire Deputy Chief James Kane.
“She just happened to go out in the kitchen and saw heavy fire,” Kane said. “It was a good thing it didn’t happen a few hours later.”
Kane did not know how many students were living in the apartments but said that they all escaped safely. He said heavy fire was showing on both the second and third floor rear porches and starting to extend into the building when firefighters arrived.
Investigators continue to probe the cause of the fire which apparently started in rubbish on that second floor porch, Kane said. The fire does not appear to be suspicious and improper disposal of smoking materials has not yet been ruled out as a cause, he said.
State Trooper Michael Mazza, who is attached to the state Fire Marshal’s office, is aiding in the investigation.