Source: The Republican (Springfield, MA)
Author: NANCY H. GONTER; [email protected]
NORTHAMPTON, MA – An elderly man was in critical condition and one firefighter suffered minor injuries in a fire on Prospect Street early this morning.
Police and ambulance were called to 248 Prospect St. for a report of a Health Watch alarm. When police arrived, they saw heavy smoke in the building and were unable to get inside, according to a Fire Department press release.
When firefighters arrived, they quickly got into the building and found Frank J. Labato, 90, on the living room floor of his apartment.
Labato was taken to Baystate Medical Center and was in critical condition. The firefighter with minor injuries was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital, fire officials said.
The fire started on the first floor and spread to the top two floors. The cause has not been determined.
Firefighters from Williamsburg, Easthampton, Amherst, Westhampton and Hatfield responded to the fire scene, while Hadley and Goshen firefighters provided coverage at the fire station.