A Good Samaritan rushed into a burning triple-decker building in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood Monday morning to rescue residents caught in the raging flames.
The fire started around 10:15 a.m. in a three-family building at 28 Fifield St. and had spread to all three floors within about 15 minutes, the Boston Fire Department said.
Tyleek Solomon said he saw the flames and ran into the building to try to rescue its occupants before anyone had even had a chance to call 911.
"I saw the smoke and ran inside, kicked the front door open, grabbed two people from the top," he told NBC10 Boston. "It blew up on the back porch while I was inside trying to grab them out. All the smoke just started pouring out of the building."
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Solomon was able to help everyone get outside, but said he wound up getting sick from inhaling so much smoke.
"They gave me water and tested my breathing with the machine and the oxygen machine," he said.
Firefighters were on scene in a matter of minutes and were able to extinguish the flames shortly after 11 a.m.
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"We were worried about the adjacent building, the low power lines," District Chief Jonathan Rodriguez of the Boston Fire Department said.
Seventeen tenants, including four children, were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross responded to the scene to help them find housing.
"I went back to my apartment, grabbed a jug of water and a few cups and just tried to comfort people," said Candice Boren, a neighbor. "Overall, it was a little scary."
Two firefighters suffered minor burns and were taken to an area hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but neighbors said they heard loud popping sounds coming from the back of the house. Fire officials estimate the damage at around $500,000.
