A tragic turn in the aftermath of the six-alarm fire that ripped through East Boston earlier this month: A child, who spent weeks fighting for life following the blaze, has succumbed to injuries. The Suffolk County District Attorney's office confirmed the young victim's death last night, as reported by Boston 25 News. The child's identity remains undisclosed. This incident marks the second fatality from the fire that engulfed residences on Meridian Street on April 2, taking the life of an adult male found deceased at the scene. His identity has also not yet been released.
Responding to the early morning chaos, Boston firefighters executed dramatic rescues, saving five adults and the later deceased child via aerial ladders as the firestorm ensued. "We will do whatever we can to support those displaced and recovering in the hospital," Boston Mayor Michelle Wu described the city's commitment to the victims in an interview obtained by NBC Boston. In addition to the fatalities, four other individuals were rescued, and one firefighter incurred minor injuries during the operation.
The intensity of the blaze, which also killed another person, is still under the microscope, with investigations ongoing into the cause. The inferno quickly spread to adjacent homes due to their close proximity, a challenge that would exacerbate the firefighters' efforts to control the flames and avert further disaster. Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke, as reported by WCVB, estimated a staggering $5 million in damages accruing to all three buildings affected by the fire.
Witnesses to the calamity spoke of a chaotic scramble for safety, while others endeavored to pull trapped neighbors from the fiery grip. "There were people running around trying to get out of the house, and it seemed like there were still some people trapped in here. So, they were trying to run back in and grab people out of that house as well. Our house is burning. We're trying to figure out what's going on," recounted resident Fabricio Paes, in a statement obtained by WCVB. The aftermath leaves about 30 residents facing displacement, now having to rebuild their lives from the ashes of a once familiar and now decimated landscape of home.
