A three-alarm fire ripped through a Linden Street home in Allston Sunday morning killing one person and injuring 15 other people including six firefighters.
Credit: Boston Fire Department
One person was killed and 15 others were injured when a fire ripped through an Allston home early Sunday morning where at least nine residents are Boston University students.
Of the 15 people injured, six were firefighters who raced to the scene at 87 Linden St., just after 6:30 a.m., and two were Boston University students.
The cause is still unknown, however a homicide investigation is underway to determine where and how the fire started, according to Boston Fire Department Spokesman Steve MacDonald. [embedgallery id=141524]
When fire crews arrived at the three-story home there was heavy fire showing on the second floor and attic and flames were coming through the roof.
The fatal victim, a woman, was found in the top floor.
“At some point firefighters were informed that the residents could not find one person. She was found in the attic, deceased,” said MacDonald.
He would not say whether the casualty was a Boston University student.
Her identity and cause of death will be determined by investigators, he said.
“We know at least one person jumped off the roof, but the roof of the first floor,” MacDonald said.
At least three other people had to be rescued by firefighters climbing ladders.
“We believe up to 18 people lived there,” said MacDonald, adding that investigators are looking into how many people are allowed to be living there.
A view of Linden Street, taken from a neighbor’s home just four hours after a fatal fire. PHOTO CREDIT: BRIAN CROOK
The nine occupants and six firefighters who were injured suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, MacDonald said, and were being treated for scrapes, bruises and burns.
By 11:30 a.m., dozens of fire officials, emergency vehicles and police officers were still on scene. Some neighbors stood outside their homes, watching the aftermath of the early morning fire.
Eunatee and Cheun Park live directly across the street from the ill-fated home. According to Eunatee, there was a lot of loud commotion – possibly a party – coming from the house around 1:30 a.m.
“It was really loud, every week they are loud,” she said.
Cheun woke up around 6 a.m., intent on hiking the White Mountains, which is when he saw the blaze and snapped some shots of the frightening scene.
“I was scared,” he said. Eunatee said she saw people outside the home as the fire was raging.
“They looked scared. They were waiting for some people to help them,” she said.
Next door, Brian Crook and his friend MichaelBerezin had just emerged from a long sleep. They were stunned and saddened to see the smoke stained shell that was their neighbors’ home.
“It’s awful,” said Berezin. “Horrible.”
“It’s sad just think about that person,” Crook said, adding that the homes are mostly inhabited by college students and are therefore “pretty busy.”
“That’s why I didn’t think anything when I went to bed. I could hear people outside, but it’s just a normal Saturday night,” he said.”It’s just crazy. It’s like another thing after another thing.”
The Red Cross was assisting those impacted by the fire. A spokeswoman said the agency has helped five residents with emergency funds for clothing and shoes.
“We expect to help more residents displaced by the Allston fire,” she said.
Executive Director of Media Relations of Boston University, Colin Riley, said “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased. The university is providing assistance, counseling services, and accommodations to the affected students, as well as the university community. We also thank Boston Firefighters for their work in battling the fire as well as BFD investigators, Boston Police, Boston EMS, state officials, and the Red Cross for their efforts.”
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