Follow Up: Center St Chicopee, MA

Early Sunday morning I passed by the scene of Saturday night's fire to do a follow up and to see just how devastating the blaze had been. I was moved by the sight of the burnt out building and the wall left standing. Myself and an amateur photographer stood starring at the structure as we engaged in a dialog about the previous night and the emotions display we both encountered. As I maneuvered around the scene, speaking with Lieutenant Kevin Morney of the Chicopee Fire Dept, he proceeded to tell me that the building was to come down very shortly. The remaining pieces of the building were unsafe, unstable, and "could come down with a sneeze," as one firefighter later stated. Not nearly as many people were present as the previous night, but crowds of spectators came and went, recording snippets of the action on their cell phones. Occasionally someone would appear with a camera in hand, making a snap shot or two of what was transpiring. I decided then, after hearing the Lieutenant tell me the building needed to come down, that I must stay on scene and document it. The moment was disheartening, but the idea of the story compelled me to document it.As I moved around bearing witness to some last minute hot spot hose downs, emergency officials, city officials, business owners, fire restoration specialists, as well as the crew members of Associated Building Wreckers assessed and evaluated the scene before them. It wasn't long before vehicles for the demo started to show up. Working quickly, the crew of Associated set up their equipment and began the process of cleaning up Center St and making preparations for the building to come down. The scene was charged with a high level of emotions as people found their place to watch. Stories of the building, the business, the residence were being passed back and forth as on lookers stood in awe of the building and what remained. An architect, passing by, asked the Lieutenant to walk down Center St so he could see for himself what had brought this beautiful building down. As he was parting, he turned and thanked the Lieutenant for all the he does. The Chicopee Fire Dept and the surrounding companies all worked hard. Their efforts and bravery surely do not go unnoticed. Thank you to all the firefighters that extended themselves this weekend, and everyday for that matter. Your dedication to the job and the city saved lives and the buildings that occupied the same block. On a more positive note, as was told to me, the Munich House will be open on Tuesday. I think it would be a tremendously generous act if the Munich House was to celebrate the bravery of the those who risked themselves to save the building and the lives that were in it. A beautiful building that once stood, now exists as a beautiful memory.
Early Sunday morning I passed by the scene of Saturday night's fire to do a follow up and to see just how devastating the blaze had been. I was moved by the sight of the burnt out building and the wall left standing. Myself and an amateur photographer stood starring at the structure as we engaged in a dialog about the previous night and the emotions display we both encountered. As I maneuvered around the scene, speaking with Lieutenant Kevin Morney of the Chicopee Fire Dept, he proceeded to tell me that the building was to come down very shortly. The remaining pieces of the building were unsafe, unstable, and "could come down with a sneeze," as one firefighter later stated. Not nearly as many people were present as the previous night, but crowds of spectators came and went, recording snippets of the action on their cell phones. Occasionally someone would appear with a camera in hand, making a snap shot or two of what was transpiring. I decided then, after hearing the Lieutenant tell me the building needed to come down, that I must stay on scene and document it. The moment was disheartening, but the idea of the story compelled me to document it.
As I moved around bearing witness to some last minute hot spot hose downs, emergency officials, city officials, business owners, fire restoration specialists, as well as the crew members of Associated Building Wreckers assessed and evaluated the scene before them. It wasn't long before vehicles for the demo started to show up. Working quickly, the crew of Associated set up their equipment and began the process of cleaning up Center St and making preparations for the building to come down. The scene was charged with a high level of emotions as people found their place to watch. Stories of the building, the business, the residence were being passed back and forth as on lookers stood in awe of the building and what remained. An architect, passing by, asked the Lieutenant to walk down Center St so he could see for himself what had brought this beautiful building down. As he was parting, he turned and thanked the Lieutenant for all the he does. The Chicopee Fire Dept and the surrounding companies all worked hard. Their efforts and bravery surely do not go unnoticed. Thank you to all the firefighters that extended themselves this weekend, and everyday for that matter. Your dedication to the job and the city saved lives and the buildings that occupied the same block. On a more positive note, as was told to me, the Munich House will be open on Tuesday. I think it would be a tremendously generous act if the Munich House was to celebrate the bravery of the those who risked themselves to save the building and the lives that were in it. A beautiful building that once stood, now exists as a beautiful memory.

We extend our thoughts and prayers to both the victims and the business owners in their time of loss. As a business owner myself, I can not fathom the level of emotions that being experienced.