By Travis Andersen and Matt Byrne
The Boston Globe
BOSTON — A seven-alarm fire destroyed a brick duplex in East Boston on Sunday afternoon, displacing 30 people, injuring three firefighters, damaging adjacent properties and snarling traffic in the heavily congested area, officials said.
Steve MacDonald, a Boston Fire Department spokesman, said the initial call came in shortly before 2 p.m. and officials rapidly raised the number of alarms because of the size of the building, which is located on Chelsea Street, the number of families it houses, and the proximity of neighboring buildings. The building next door, which was damaged by the flames, is about four feet away, officials said.
“Historically, East Boston is a very congested neighborhood,” MacDonald said. “The buildings are very close. It’s better to have more [firefighters] here; you can always send them back.”
Full story: Seven-alarm fire in East Boston displaces 30 people, injures three firefighters