BOSTON — A building fire along Washington Street shut down the road from Beacon Street to Commonwealth Avenue Thursday morning, according to Brookline Police.
Some residents were evacuated from the building as others were instructed to stay inside their apartments.
The fire was in the Patricia White Apartments near the Whole Foods in Brighton. The senior housing building is privately managed by Corcoran.
According to the Boston Housing Authority's website, the eight-story building has about 225 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Boston Fire officials said residents were being evacuated through available windows and doors. Three people were rescued by ladder while two others were taken to an area hospital. They are expected to be okay.
Boston Fire tweeted the fire was knocked down just before 9:30 a.m.
The Boston Fire Commissioner Joe Finn says there are about 15 apartment units on the side of the building where the fire happened, and many of those my not be liveable due to smoke damage.
"The door was left open when the person was evacuating they left the door open to the unit which was problematic," Commissioner Finn said. "Most important thing people can do is close the door behind them.They left the door open and it seems that smoke migrated throughout the building."
Some residents have been placed in hotels in the meantime.