One Dead in Chicopee Apartment Fire; 5 Residents Displaced

One person died in a fire at an apartment building on Benoit Circle in Chicopee, Massachusetts, on the evening of Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. State fire officials say five more people who live in the building have had to leave for now.

What happened

The Chicopee Fire Department was sent to the Edward J. Bury Apartments at 7:35 p.m. following an alarm activation relayed by the WESTCOMM regional dispatch center. Firefighters arrived to find smoke and flames at the rear of the building. They confined the fire to the unit where it began, then found one adult dead inside.

The fire marshal's office, which announced the death, has not named the person. Determining how the person died is left to the state medical examiner.

Who is affected

The five neighbors who had to leave are getting assistance from the American Red Cross. None of the coverage says how long they may be out, or whether other units sustained smoke or water damage.

Investigation

The cause of the fire has not been determined. A team is looking into where and how the blaze started: state police fire investigators attached to the fire marshal, local firefighters and police, and troopers who work with the Hampden County prosecutor. A code-enforcement unit of the state Department of Fire Services is also helping. Officials have not described anything as suspicious; a multi-agency review is routine after a fatal fire.

Fire Chief Matthew M. Cross offered "heartfelt condolences" to the victim's family on behalf of the department.

What this means for renters

Because the cause is unknown, there is no finding about alarms, wiring, cooking or anything else, and it would be wrong to guess. What the early facts do show is the value of containment: the fire stayed in a single unit, which is why only five other residents had to leave. Compartmentation, working alarms and fast response are what make that outcome possible.

Tenants in any apartment building can take a few steps now:

• Confirm your alarms work and report any that do not to your landlord or property manager in writing.
• Know your building's exits and the route to the nearest stairwell from your door.
• Never ignore an alarm, even if you smell nothing. Leave first and ask questions later.
• Keep key documents and medications in one easy-to-grab place, and photograph your belongings for insurance.

Residents displaced by a fire can ask the Red Cross about emergency lodging and supplies, then notify their landlord and renters insurer. Our first-72-hours checklist walks through what to do and what to document.

A note on building names

The Edward J. Bury Apartments is the name given in the reports. Coverage does not say who owns or manages the building, how many units it has or what year it was built, so this article does not characterize it further. Readers who live in the complex can ask management for updates in writing.

Steps if you were affected

People displaced by a building fire often face a confusing first week. Write down the name of the Red Cross caseworker and the reference number for any assistance. Ask the property manager in writing whether your unit is habitable, when you may retrieve belongings, and how rent will be handled for the period you cannot live there; rules differ by state and lease, and Massachusetts tenants can contact their local housing authority or a legal aid office for guidance. Photograph anything you can access, keep receipts, and file a claim with a renters insurer promptly, because loss-of-use coverage generally requires documentation of added living costs.

We will update this report when investigators identify a cause or the victim is publicly named by officials.