The fire began just before 4 p.m. on Wilbraham Street in Palmer as a family was cooking dinner on their outside grill, the Palmer Fire Department said. The blaze quickly got out of control and spread to the home before crews could get there and battle the flames back.
Firefighters from Palmer responded with crews from Three Rivers, Bondsville, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Ware, Belchertown, Monson, Warren, Hampden, and Brimfield helping out.
Two people received minor injuries in the blaze, with one being taken to the hospital for treatment, Palmer firefighters said. Six people were left homeless. The Red Cross is assisting the family.
“If you use a grill, please be sure to use it safely," Palmer Fire Chief William J. Bernat Jr in a news release. "Grills should be placed at least 10 feet away from the side of the house and never beneath any roof, overhang, or tree branches. Check that your connections are tight before turning on the gas, and clean the grease trap every time you grill.”
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