SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — Firefighters battled flames at a 2 family home in Springfield for nearly an hour today before they were able to knock the fire down leaving 9 people without a home on the Eve of Christmas.

That’s according to Dennis Leger, Aid to the Springfield Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant.  Leger says the call came in at 1:17  p.m. for a basement fire at a multi-family home located at 185 – 197 Northampton Avenue.

When firefighters arrived they began working on putting out the flames which had made their way to the roof.   However, at one point fire personnel had to evacuate the building due to safety concerns.  Our crew on the scene at the time witnessed this.

Leger reports 9 people have been displaced including 5 children as a result.  The Red Cross is assisting those families now.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Leger estimates the damage in the vicinity of $100,000.