HOLYOKE — On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, the Holyoke Fire Department announced that State Fire Marshal Jon Davine suspended a commercial cooking exhaust hood cleaner’s license for up to two and a half years following an investigation into a fire that took place last February at the Holyoke Mall.
According to the Holyoke Fire Department, Joseph Gorecki and his Hampden-based business, Gorecki & Sons LLC, are barred from performing any regulated work until September 2029.
The order allows Gorecki to seek reinstatement after 15 months if he takes and successfully passes a certification exam administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The remaining 15 months would then be considered a probationary period, during which his individual and business licenses could again be suspended and new penalties could be imposed if he violates any part of the State Fire Code.
The Holyoke Fire Department reported that neither Gorecki nor Gorecki & Sons LLC is accused of starting the fire on Feb. 18, 2026, at the Holyoke Mall.
The fire began when sparks from work in the area ignited built-up grease inside the exhaust ducts, according to the department.
A joint investigation by the Department of Fire Services’ Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit and the Holyoke Fire Department found that Gorecki & Sons LLC failed to properly clean grease from the ductwork, failed to accurately document its work, and failed to notify the property owner about areas that were inaccessible, not cleaned, or not compliant with the Fire Code.
The Holyoke Fire Department said Gorecki admitted to those violations, as well as similar violations at three restaurants in Haverhill, Westfield, and Marlborough.
“The Fire Code’s hood cleaning provisions protect lives and property,” Davine said. “They were put in place after a grease fire in restaurant duct work killed two firefighters. The overwhelming majority of hood cleaning license holders understand the risks and do effective, professional work. Those who don’t put people and businesses in harm’s way.”
Holyoke Fire Chief John Kadlewicz said code violations are not administrative technicalities.
“Every day, families put their trust in the Fire Code to make restaurants, malls, and other public spaces safe to visit,” Kadlewicz said. “Code violations aren’t administrative technicalities – they’re serious business. Holyoke firefighters spent four hours fighting the three-alarm fire at the Holyoke Mall, and we’re extremely fortunate that no one was seriously injured.”
The Holyoke Fire Department said the license suspension was based on the joint investigation, witness interviews, Gorecki & Sons inspection records, spot checks at locations where Gorecki & Sons had performed regulated work, and Gorecki’s own admissions.
Anyone aware of hood-cleaning work performed by Joseph Gorecki or Gorecki & Sons LLC before September 2027 is asked to contact the DFS Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit at (978) 567-3375.
