Chicopee woman charged with arson following Belcher Street fire
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – A Chicopee woman was arrested and charged in connection with a three-alarm fire that left a dozen residents without a home on Sunday.
Department of Fire Services Public Information Officer Jake Wark stated in a news release that Chicopee fire crews responded to 26 Belcher Street after 3:30 a.m. on Sunday for reports of a structure fire. Firefighters found the three-story, multi-family home in flames.
Residents of ten units without home following Chicopee fire
Chicopee crews were able to assist in evacuating all residents, as well as rescuing two pets Sunday morning. A third pet was rescued from the building on Monday after neighbors noticed it in a third-floor window. Firefighters worked to put out the fire for over two hours, with the building sustaining severe fire, smoke, and water damage as a result.
State and local fire officials began investigating the cause of the fire and determined that it had begun in a second-floor bathroom. Investigators found through evidence and witness interviews that the fire had been intentionally set.
Chicopee and state police officers identified 40-year-old Michelle Hall of Chicopee as a suspect connected to the fire. Hall had allegedly been involved in an altercation at the building before the fire took place. She was arrested Sunday evening and charged with arson.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Discover tasty veggie burgers at top spots in western Massachusetts, according to Yelp
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – June 5th is National Veggie Burger Day, a day that proves that combining flavor and plant power can be done. Springfield opens cooling centers as temperatures rise The National Day Calendar states that veggie burgers, which are full of flavor, protein, and nutrients, can be layered with all of your favorite toppings, like your standard beef burgers, such as onion, tomato, lettuce, cheese, ketchup, and mustard between a crusty roll or bun. These burgers have become more common on the menus of high-class restaurants as well as backyard BBQs. To celebrate the veggie burger, grab one at one of these top places in western Massachusetts, according to Yelp: Local Burger– 16 Main Street, Northampton Pulse Cafe– 270 Russell Street, Hadley Johnny's Tavern– 30 Boltwood Walk, Amherst The Wagon Wheel Restaurant– 39 French King Hwy, Gill Thrive Diner– 145 Wahconah Street, Pittsfield Classic Burger – 1261 Westfield Street, West Springfield Nosh Restaurant and Cafe– 1341 Main Street, Springfield 51 Park Restaurant and Tavern– 51 Park Street, Lee Water Street Grill– 123 Water Street, Williamstown The Yarde Tavern South Hadley– 3 Hadley Street, South Hadley WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Safety tips for lithium-ion batteries after Pittsfield fire
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A large fire was put out at a homeless shelter in Pittsfield Wednesday night. Pittsfield police warn residents of retired officer impersonation scheme The Pittsfield Fire Department states that at 7:59 p.m. on Wednesday, crews were sent to 360 West Housatonic Street, Soldier On, for a reported building fire. When crews arrived, a large, open-air shed was fully on fire. The fire was put out within 30 minutes. The main Soldier On building nearby was damaged on the roof and some of the windows. The cause of the fire was determined to be a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery-powered E-Bike. The bike was found charging when it started a 'thermal runaway' of one or more Li-ion fuel cells. The fire then spread to the entire shed. No injuries were reported. Lithium-ion batteries can be found in many household items such as cell phones, laptops and tablets, watches, e-bikes, vape devices, electric vehicles, power tools, and many children's toys. These types of batteries are known for melting, catching fire, and even exploding sometimes. Lithium-ion batteries power everything from smartphones and laptops to scooters and electric vehicles, and they pack a lot of power into a small device. These products should be unplugged after they are finished charging to prevent a fire or explosion. To properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries, they can be brought to a household hazardous waste collection site or a battery recycling center such as Staples, Home Depot, and Lowe's. To find a location near you, visit Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Always follow the manufacturer's instructions Only use the battery and charging cord that is designed for the device Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or a couch Plug the charger directly into a wall outlet, not a power strip or extension cord Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged Keep batteries at room temperature when possible Do not charge them at temperatures below 32°F (0°C) or above 105°F (40°C). Do not leave them in a hot car, in direct sunlight, or freezing temperatures Store batteries away from anything that can catch fire Store scooters and e-bikes outdoors if possible. If you must store them indoors, keep them away from doors, windows, and stairways Have working smoke alarms and a home escape plan that includes two ways out WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Multiple police vehicles, K9 spotted on Byers Street in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Multiple Springfield police cruisers have been spotted on Byers Street in Springfield Thursday morning. Springfield Police SVU arrest man in connection with rape and kidnapping Byers Street is right off Pearl Street near the Springfield Police Department. 22News crews are seeing multiple police cruisers, police, and a K9 going in and out of an apartment building. An ambulance can also be seen. It's unclear why police are there at this time. Byers Street is roped off in the area of an apartment building. 22News did reach out to Springfield police, but haven't heard anything yet. We will continue to update this story as soon as more information becomes available. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
