An early morning blaze in Cambridge left one person dead and dozens more without a home. According to a post by The Cambridge Fire Department, the fire alarm sounded just before 5 a.m. at Chester Street. Firefighters responding to the call encountered thick smoke billowing from the windows of a ground-floor apartment.

04:56ALM 3: FIRE ALARM /SMOKE DETECTO at 0XX CHESTER ST in #CambMA

— Cambridge Fire Dept. (@CambridgeMAFire) January 2, 2024

Working rapidly to contain the fire, crews faced the grim discovery of a deceased individual in one of the units. Trapped by smoke and flames, several residents from the building's higher floors required rescue by ladder trucks, their escape routes cut off. According to a report by NBC Boston, the conflagration displaced approximately 30 to 40 people and left a firefighter with minor injuries.

The community reeled from the early morning tragedy as authorities began to piece together the circumstances leading up to the inferno. The cause of the fire remains under active investigation, even as support networks rallied to assist those affected.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath, disoriented residents were supported by the Red Cross and other local agencies offering assistance. In the face of the upheaval caused by this calamity, a firefighter suffered minor injuries, an embodiment of the risks taken by first responders committed to public safety and the preservation of life. As the community works on recovery and reconstruction, the victim's identity remains undisclosed, pending notification of their family.