A man sleeping in a tent near Maple Street in Holyoke woke up to find another man setting his tent on fire with a lighter early Tuesday morning. He escaped without injury as the suspect ran off, one piece of a puzzle investigators are now racing to solve: six outdoor fires reported in the city over two nights.
According to Western Mass News, authorities are asking for the public's help as they investigate the string of fires, three reported near Race Street and three near Maple Street. State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in a statement that officials believe the fires are connected, though that link has not been confirmed. “We believe these incidents are connected and we are urging anyone who saw something, heard something, or knows something to share that information with us,” Davine said, according to the outlet.
Reports differ on exactly what burned and where during the first cluster of fires early Sunday. Western Mass News reported that three fires, which damaged a dumpster, a shed and a structure, were reported around 5:45 a.m. near 268 and 298 Race Street. WWLP instead described multiple dumpster fires on Race and Cabot streets that morning, reporting that the damage did not spread beyond the dumpsters themselves. The discrepancy between the two accounts has not been resolved.
A Second Round of Fires Near Maple Street
Three more fires followed shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday near 109 and 145 Maple Street, per the original reporting cited in the seed account. One of those three fires ignited an occupied tent, according to the same reporting, and the man inside told investigators he woke to another man setting the tent ablaze with a lighter before fleeing the scene.
The fires were first reported over two nights, and officials have said unchecked fires of this kind can grow and spread to a dangerous size. Davine reiterated that warning in his statement, noting the risk any uncontrolled fire poses to nearby residents and property.
Investigators Seek Tips, Offer Reward
The Holyoke Fire Investigation Team and the Massachusetts State Police Fire Investigation Team are jointly investigating the fires reported Sunday, per the same account from WWLP. No suspect has been identified, arrested or charged in connection with the six fires.
Anyone with information is being urged to come forward. The Arson Watch Reward Program offers rewards of up to $5,000 for information that detects, prevents or solves arson crimes, and officials say all calls to the hotline remain confidential, according to the reporting from Western Mass News.
A 2025 House Fire Case in the Same City
The six-outdoor-fire investigation is distinct from a case involving a house fire at 268 Pine St. on Nov. 4, 2025. Anthony Ortiz Correia, 40, and Naysha Merced Gonzalez, 42, were charged in connection with the fire, which authorities determined had been intentionally set, according to NBC Boston. The outlet reported on Nov. 18, 2025, that the pair faced charges including burning a dwelling, attempted murder and causing injury to a firefighter in the line of duty, and that arraignment was expected. All six residents of the multi-family home escaped safely, though one firefighter was injured, the outlet reported.
