BOSTON — Firefighters were busy trying to put out a 3-alarm fire in East Boston Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters were quick to respond to the scene, but as they got to the fire, they found that the closest fire hydrant was frozen.
Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph Finn says the freezing temperatures made fighting the flames more difficult, so they needed to call help from other agencies.
"They actually had a propane tank and a little heater next to the fire hydrant, heating it up, which was pretty interesting," said Commissioner Finn. "This does occur, but I'll tell you, it's not the norm."
360 Meridian St. East Boston 3 alarms pic.twitter.com/kjrytCkOGE
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) December 17, 2017
According to officials, the fire broke out before 1:00 p.m on Meridian St.
The Boston Fire Dept. said the fire was on the top floor of a 3-story building - and it extended through the roof.
All firefighters were ordered off of the roof. Unstable. A cockloft fire; the expanded area above the top floor ceiling but below the roof. Interior operations ongoing.
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) December 17, 2017
Firefighters were quickly ordered off the roof due to its instability.
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) December 17, 2017
No injuries have been reported, but firefighters rescued a small cat from inside the burning home. The cat was placed inside a car with the heat turned up and eventually returned to its owner.
Found in the building was this cat here with FF David McSweeney of Engine 7. Cat was placed in a Chiefs car and the heat turned up. To be reunited with its owner. Nice job! pic.twitter.com/5tPiHNTPZ6
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) December 17, 2017
About an hour after responding to the fire, the Boston Fire Department tweeted they were still fighting some hot spots in the 8-unit duplex house. The estimated initial damage is set at around $500,000 dollars.
Fifteen to twenty people are now displaced due to the fire, including the cat rescued by the Fire Department. They carried out as much as they could salvage, and are now looking for a temporary place to stay, one week before Christmas.
Commissioner @ChiefJoeFinn on scene at the 3 alarm fire with Incident Commander Division 1 Deputy Chief Calobrisi pic.twitter.com/7EoOE7rFFS
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) December 17, 2017
Icy conditions were also a problem at another fire that happened in Quincy on Sunday morning.
The water from the fire hoses quickly turned into ice, and that's when a firefighter slipped and fell while responding to the fire.
"Just the cold weather I mean everything's freezing at this point, it's very slippery up there, it's a little treacherous right now for the firefighters and people working on the building, but we'll be okay," said Commissioner Finn.
The cause of both fires, in Quincy and East Boston, are still under investigation.
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