More than 30 people displaced after early morning fire jumps to multiple buildings in East Boston

EAST BOSTON — A three-alarm fire broke out Wednesday morning in East Boston leaving multiple families with no home tonight. Two three-family buildings caught on fire around 6:30 a.m. on Saratoga Street.

The fire jumped from one building to another. Boston fire officials believe it started in a second-story unit and spread up to the third floor before spreading to the neighboring building. “I feel scared. I’m coming to look and I see fire,” one neighbor said. “The first fire, the real fire, had no flames. All smoke,” said a witness.

Boston Fire spokesperson Sharon Galloway said they needed the extra manpower because the buildings are so close. “When the fire goes across the porches, it doesn’t help with the sprinklers. The porches are not sprinklered but the smoke detectors did help when the smoke started getting in the house,” said Galloway.

More than 30 adults including nine children made it out on their own. Some were treated for breathing in smoke while they were running out according to Boston EMS Deputy Superintendent Steven McHugh. “We did evaluate several children who parents wanted evaluated, but not transported to the hospital,” said McHugh. “We will basically listen to their lungs and look for soot in their airway.”

Neighbors checked in on the families all morning. “I check with her to see if she needs something because they have the kids. I’m family child care and I love their kids. That’s why I am asking them,” said a neighbor.

An MBTA bus was brought in to help people shelter until they could go in and get some of their belongings so they could relocate. District Fire Chief Sean Kelly says the buildings were badly damaged. “They are taking them into to get their stuff out. The building is going to need a lot of work. They won’t be able to live there for a while,” said Kelly.

The fire chief says one of his firefighters was transported to the hospital but he is expected to be okay.

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