A basement fire tore through a multifamily home on Westmore Road in Mattapan early Wednesday, forcing eight residents and their pets to rush out into the street. Fire officials said the flames started in the basement and climbed to the first floor, triggering a quick, precautionary escape for seven adults and one child.
According to WHDH, Boston Fire Department crews responded to the scene and investigators are working to pin down how the blaze began. The station’s early report did not list a specific street number or any information on possible injuries, and officials had not released additional details at the time of that initial update.
Mattapan Has Seen Several Multiunit Fires This Year
Wednesday’s fire is the latest in a string of multiunit blazes in the neighborhood. In March, a triple-decker fire displaced a dozen people and left a firefighter injured, in what one wind-whipped Mattapan inferno described as a fast-moving, floor-to-floor burn. Those recent incidents highlight how quickly flames can leap between levels in older, multistory homes and why getting out fast is often the safest call.
Investigation Underway
Fire investigators are examining the Westmore Road home to determine where and how Wednesday’s blaze started, officials told WHDH. The station’s first report did not specify which city agencies might be stepping in to assist the displaced residents. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
