Dorchester fire fueled by ‘hoarding conditions’ inside 3-family home

BOSTON — Firefighters battled a large fire in a multifamily home on Romsey Street in Dorchester early Friday morning that was fueled by a “hoarding situation” inside the home, fire officials said.

The fire at 77 Romsey Street started around 4 a.m. and quickly grew to three alarms, Boston Fire tweeted. The homeowner, a woman in her 60s who lived there alone, was able to get out on her own, Deputy Chief of Operation Andre Stollworth said. The home was packed and evidence of hoarding was visible throughout the entire building, he said.

Crews were ordered out of the three-family home around 4:30 a.m. as the fire quickly spread. Stollworth said the fire was mostly contained to the third floor and once they learned the sole occupant was able to flee, they ordered firefighters out the building due to the potential for a collapse due to the combined weight from hoarding conditions and a large amount of water.

Fire crews poured water from all sides to prevent the blaze from spreading, with some standing on the porches of neighboring homes to drench the fire.

Heavy fire was knocked down around 5:30 a.m.

This was the second 3-alarm fire in eight hours that District 7 firefighters responded to in Dorchester. A firefighter was pulled from a blaze on Stonehurst Street Thursday night and another was treated for smoke inhalation. Fire officials said both are expected to be OK.

Firefighters battle heavy fire in multifamily home in Dorchester The fire on Romsey Street broke out around 4 a.m. and quickly grew to 3-alarms.

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