Fire Destroys Home on Lexington Street

By John Lynds

Firefighters battle the blaze from the roof. of 149 Lexington St. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in the attic.

Firefighters battle the blaze from the roof. of 149 Lexington St.
The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in the attic.

A morning fire on Sunday caused by an electrical short circuit in the attic at a Lexington Street residence left 11 adults and one girl homeless. Boston firefighters responded to 149 Lexington St. shortly before 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

When firefighters arrived the two-and-half-story, four-unit building had smoke billowing from the windows.

The fire quickly spread to a three-alarm blaze and firefighters worked feverishly to stop the fire from spreading to adjacent homes. The homes on either side of 149 Lexington are only a few feet apart.

The majority of the fire was contained in the attic of the building but heavy smoke and water caused significant damage to the home.

Boston Fire Department Commissioner and Chief, Joseph Finn, said the estimated damage was at $600,000.

“Fire Investigators determined the cause of today’s (Sunday) three-alarm fire to be an electrical short in the wiring, on the third floor,” said Finn.

There were no injuries reported during the fire and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services as well as the American Red Cross was on hand to help the victims.

“Good work today (Sunday) in East Boston,” said Finn. “There were no injuries and the fire was contained to building of origin. Thanks to all that responded. Well done.”

Finn added that he also wanted to “thank the Boston Fire Department Victims Assistance Unit, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services and the Red Cross”, calling the staff of each department ‘unsung heroes” of Sunday’s fire.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the victims with the hopes of raising $10,000. As of Tuesday the site has raised nearly $1,000 for the victims.

The website can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/3b68ki8?ssid=896433498&pos=1.

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