HOLYOKE ― Flames tore through a Holyoke apartment building Monday afternoon, leaving dozens of families scrambling for safety and a city racing to respond.

The blaze broke out around 4 p.m. at 131 Clemente St., a multi-unit apartment building housing about 35 families, according to officials.

A woman who lives next door said flames spread so fast that she had to leave for safety.

Around 5 p.m., streets were blocked as fire and police crews worked while alarms sounded. Holyoke firefighters hosed down the blaze from two sides of the building as smoke filled the South Holyoke neighborhood.

The fire also damaged a neighboring building.

Police said no one was injured.

Fire crews from Chicopee and other agencies responded, along with emergency management teams .

Police on social media a

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