Seven Boston University students were hospitalized Sunday morning after a fast-moving fire ripped through their home, leaving one student in critical condition.
The fierce flames and thick smoke forced two students to jump from the upper level of the four-apartment house at 84 Linden St. as the fire engulfed the building, according to a Boston Fire Department spokesman.
“It’s a total loss,” said Steve MacDonald, the department spokesman. “They will probably have to tear the whole place down.”
The two-alarm fire broke out at about 7:08 a.m.
All of the residents managed to escape the blaze and were sent to area hospitals for evaluation.
One of the students, who jumped from his window to escape, was still in critical condition yesterday, according to fire officials.
Sunil Gopal, 26, a recent BU graduate who lives across the street from where the fire broke out, said someone yelling for help woke up him and his roommates.
“I heard lots of cries of desperation,” said Gopal. “The whole top of the house was just up in flames.”
A neighbor, who wouldn’t give his name, said the victims’ sought shelter in his apartment until they went to the hospital.
“All that really matters is that everyone is OK,” he said, visibly shaken, through the doorway of his apartment.
Officials on scene said BU would provide housing to the students displaced by the fire.
Costly fire
Yesterday’s fire in Allston used up a lot of resources.
More than 60 Boston firefighters were called in to put out the flames.
The home contained four apartments and housed seven students.
The two-alarm blaze caused $500,000 in damage, and the building is likely a total loss.
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