Boston

Firefighter Recounts Remarkable Rescue of Mother and Son in Dorchester

A Dorchester mother and her 5-year-old son almost lost their lives as a two-alarm fire raged inside their home.

The dramatic moment firefighter Patrick Callahan was able to rescue the boy is one the child’s mother and Callahan will never forget.

"When I saw him, we just did our best as a team to get them out safely," Callahan said.

The fire started on the second floor and spread quickly to the third, where the mom and son lived.

"I really don’t know what happened," the mother said. "I was in the third floor cooking with my son. My son is the one that noticed it. He told me 'Mommy, there's smoke on the window."

Fire officials responded around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday to a fire at 6 Woodward Park St., a three-decker building.

Callahan was overjoyed to see the young child he’d rescued, as he reflected on the moments he describes as controlled chaos Wednesday night.

"He was nervous last night," Callahan said. "All he wanted was his mom. Seeing him today, like this, I’m speechless. It’s nice to see what a good outcome this is, the way that it was.”

One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation but were expected to be OK.

Approximately 10 residents were displaced.

As of 9 p.m., the fire had been knocked down, but crews were still overhauling the scene.

Witnesses who saw the rescue unfold described the dramatic scene.

"Once the smoke started coming out the windows, she got really scared," one witness told NBC10 Boston. "She was screaming. I was just hoping she didn't throw the baby."

It is estimated that the fire caused about $500,000 in damages.

Editor's note: Boston fire officials reported earlier that the fire happened in the city's Roxbury neighborhood, but later clarified it happened in Dorchester.

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