A fire burned at a triple-decker home Friday morning in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, resulting in significant damage to the building and 16 people being displaced, according to the city's fire department.
The fire broke out at a home on Lucerne Street around 4 a.m., and was quickly extinguished by firefighters, according to the Boston Fire Department.
Nobody was hurt, but there were five adults and 11 children displaced due to the fire, the agency said. The fire department and Red Cross are helping the people impacted with housing.
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“It first started on the first floor and then it spread on onto the roof and then went up. From there it went all the way up,” described Dorchester resident Jarrod Bennett.
Firefighters worked against the clock to put out the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to other homes.
“They [firefighters] did a good job to contain the fire because the buildings were close. You know, 4 o’clock in the morning everybody is sleeping so you’re kind of concerned about the fire traveling to the other side of the buildings,” said Boston Fire Department’s Spokesman Brian Alkins.
That was precisely Ana Crespo’s fear. She and her neighbors were woken up by the commotion and quickly gathered documents and a few valuables.
“I was scared because the fire was running fast,” said Crespo, who lives two doors down from the burned home.
While they were spared from any damage, Crespo and Bennett feel for their neighbors.
“It’s sad that you lose everything in half an hour or one hour and I’m sad for the family who lost the house and lost everything,” said Crespo.
“It was sad, it was sad,” said Bennett. “I feel bad for the families out there, losing a home is nothing nice. Hope they get better.”
The fire department estimated around $150,000 in damages, while also pointing out that the home is not a total loss, but it will be a while before families can move back in.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
