A fast-moving four-alarm fire ripped through a row of triple-decker homes on Princeton Street in East Boston on Sunday evening, sending thick smoke over the waterfront and pulling a swarm of Boston Fire units into the neighborhood. Crews arrived around 6 p.m. to find heavy flames chewing through the back porches of a three-story wood-frame building, with fire quickly jumping to nearby homes. As night fell, officials had not yet released a cause for the blaze or a full accounting of injuries or evacuations.
What crews found on arrival
Boston firefighters were dispatched to Princeton Street at about 6 p.m. and, as WCVB reported, arrived to find the rear porches of a triple-decker already engulfed. Flames spread to three nearby buildings, triggering a four-alarm response that brought in additional engines and ladder trucks. Crews fought to box the fire in on the tightly packed block while beating back heavy flames threatening to run further down the street.
Videos, neighbors and the wider impact
Clips of roaring flames and columns of smoke began circulating on social media within minutes. A roundup by the Hindustan Times cited a Boston Fire update that put the origin at 263 Princeton Street and noted that smoke was visible from pockets of the metro area, including around Logan Airport. Neighbors described a constant wail of sirens and ash drifting onto nearby sidewalks as firefighters worked into the evening to contain the damage.
Why triple-deckers can be especially dangerous
Boston’s wood-frame triple-deckers are beloved for their character, but firefighters know their porches, rear stairways and hidden void spaces can turn a small spark into a block problem in a hurry. Those features can let flames race between floors and jump between buildings, which is why these fires so often trigger multiple alarms and mutual-aid calls. A February blaze in a triple-decker on Wyman Street injured firefighters and displaced residents and showed how quickly these structures can light up, as NBC Boston reported.
Investigation and next steps
Boston Fire investigators were expected to stay on Princeton Street into the night to chase hot spots and dig into where and how the fire started. Officials were still calling it a developing situation and had not yet released details on possible injuries or how many residents might need shelter, according to WCVB.
