Fire severely damages manufacturing plant in Holyoke, MA

June 15, 2015
Fire at U.S Tsubaki spread to roof before firefighters could extinguish it.

A fire broke out in early May at the U.S Tsubaki manufacturing plant in Holyoke, MA and damaged the plant heavily before firefighters were able to put it out. 

The fire was reported by an employee late at night who saw flames in the building. Firefighters spent nearly three hours fighting the fire and making sure it was completely extinguished. The fire started in an exhaust vent which is part of a heat treating process and extended to the roof of the building. The company manufactures power-transmission chains for industrial use.

According to Fire Department Capt. Anthony Cerruti, a firefighter was taken to the hospital after he started suffering from chest pains while fighting the stubborn fire

"Because of the heat treating process below we were not able to use water and had to rely on fire extinguishers," Cerruti said.

The fire caused some damage to the roof of the building. There was no immediate estimate of the damage caused, he said.