A number of streets including Lower Whitney, East, State and Windsor have been blocked because of the fire.
A Ludlow fire truck in front of the three-story building at 21 Lower Whitney Street. Smoke blanketed the neighborhood from the fire.LUDLOW – A fire that started in the basement of a three-story apartment building spread to the third floor, forcing residents to evacuate.
All six families that lived in the building at 17-21 Lower Whitney St. were forced to leave for the night. Town officials were determining if they will be able to return to their homes soon, Ludlow Fire Capt. Joseph Crowley said.
The fire was reported at about 6:50 p.m. by a resident who was in an apartment on the second floor. Police officers arrived and were able to evacuate residents, Police Sgt. Daniel Valadas said.
When the fire department arrived they found a serious fire in the basement that was spreading to the first floor. Because of the older construction of the building, the fire was able to travel up the walls and into the attic of the right side of the building, which is 21 Lower Whitney St., Crowley said.
“We were able to keep the fire to the right side of the complex and hold it there,” he said.
The three apartments on the left side received heavy smoke damage. Utilities were turned off so residents could not return to any of the six apartments, Crowley said.
The Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross were at the scene to assist the victims, he said.
The number of people living in the home was not available.
Wilbraham and Chicopee Fire Departments assisted Ludlow with extinguishing the fire. Springfield firefighters were called to cover vacant fire stations in the town, Crowley said.
Heavy smoke from the blaze blanketed the downtown area. A number of streets including Lower Whitney, East, State and Windsor were blocked off because of the fire, Valadas said.
The cause is under investigation by Ludlow firefighters and the state Fire Marshal’s office.