Fire investigators looking for cause of massive 9-alarm Boston blaze

BOSTON (WHDH) - Residents displaced by a massive 9-alarm blaze that burned eight buildings in Boston on Saturday returned to survey the damage Sunday as fire officials work to determine a cause.

Fire crews responding to a reported structure fire at a vacant building on Old Morton Street around 4:45 p.m. Saturday found heavy smoke and flames that quickly spread to seven other buildings, fire officials said.

A woman whose home was damaged by the fire said, “The smoke inside my house was awful so we actually had to evacuate.”

A man whose grandmother was home alone when the blaze broke out said someone rushed in and carried her to safety.

“He looked like a cop, he just barged through the door and rushed her out,” he said. “She wasn’t able to get anything, he was like, ‘go now you have to go now,’ and pretty much carried her out of the house. Thank God, too.”

Seven firefighters and two civilians were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Six other people were evaluated at the scene but declined further treatment.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Fire officials say the blazed caused millions of dollars in damage.

The woman said, “It’s very sad, I mean, we had to run as well and you know, we’ve lost everything.”

Those displaced are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)