ORANGE — A fire that began outside the building destroyed a duplex at 36 Summit St. on Saturday afternoon.

According to Fire Chief James Young, the duplex is a “total loss” due to structural instability of the roof, and the fire and smoke damage that occurred. Two families with children have been displaced.

Although no occupants were injured, one firefighter experienced heat exhaustion and was evaluated on scene.

The fire was initially reported at around 12:56 p.m. by the occupants of one side of the 2½-story duplex. According to Young, the building’s owners, who live on the other side of the duplex, were not home when the fire started.

While the cause remains under investigation by the Orange Fire Department and the state Department of Fire Services, Young said the fire “started on the outside of the building and went up inside the building.” When asked if it may have been caused by a brush fire, he said no brush fires had been reported.

The fire was considered equivalent to a third alarm due to the number of departments that were called in through mutual aid. Young explained there were multiple calls happening at the same time as the Orange fire, so resources had to be called in from farther away.

“I would like to thank members of my department and the mutual aid that came,” Young said. “We had limited personnel during the early stages of the fire.”

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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