Investigators are using heavy equipment to dig through the destroyed building in their search for the cause of the fire.
Westfield firefighters on Friday morning remain on the scene of Thursday's fire at Western Massachusetts Truss Company. The destroyed building is seen in the center of the picture between the two fire trucks. This is an update of a story originally posted at 1:02 a.m. Friday
WESTFIELD - Investigators with the Westfield Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal's Office were still working to determine the cause of a Thursday night fire that destroyed a fabrication building at Westfield Truss, 100 Apremont Way, officials said.
Jennifer L. Mieth, spokeswoman for state Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, said that on Friday afternoon investigators were using heavy equipment to dig through the rubble at the site in hopes of finding where the fire started.
"It's way too early to discuss a cause," she said.
The fire swept through the building, burning it to the ground before the flames could be extinguished. When firefighters arrived on scene about 9:30 p.m., the structure was fully engulfed, said Deputy Chief Mark Devine of the Westfield Fire Department.
Westfield firefighters hose down remaining hot spots at a fire that destroyed a building at Western Massachusetts Truss Co. on Apremont Way.
Western Mass Truss Company manufactures wooden prefabricated structural support systems for roof and flooring structures. Much of the fuel for the fire was lumber used in making those trusses, he said.
Devine declared the building a total loss.
Damage was not limited to the Western Mass Truss Company property, Devine said. Embers from the blaze were swept some 200 yards to start a small fire that damaged a storage building belonging to Martin Floor Covering on Southampton Road.
Devine said some 25 firefighters and eight pieces of firefighting apparatus were used in battling the blaze. Additional units from Agawam and Southwick provided backup service to Westfield.
Reporter Dave Canton contributed to this report.