One person dies after fire in East Boston

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

By Olivia Flanz

One person died early Tuesday morning after a massive 6-alarm fire spread to three resident buildings in East Boston. The fire started around 5:00 am on a building on Meridian Street before catching on to the two buildings nearby. 

According to Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke, one person died in the fire, and a child was injured and is in the hospital. Four people were saved, and a firefighter suffered minor burns from being on the scene. 

Thirty people were displaced due to the fire. Boston’s Neighborhood Service Department and the Red Cross are working with the people affected to ensure they still have housing. 

Mayor Michelle Wu came to the scene for a press conference near the scene. “I want to share my deepest condolences to the family who has lost someone here this morning,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “It’s incredibly heartbreaking to feel what the family must be feeling, and we will do whatever we can at the city level to support all those who are displaced or are going to need some time recovering in the hospital.”

It took a while for the fire to finally get put out due to its size and the amount of smoke. Even on the streets, conditions were rough. Fire investigators will remain on the scene throughout the day to find the cause of the outbreak.