BOSTON — A death investigation is underway after firefighters battled a large house fire in the city's Dorchester neighborhood on Monday morning. Boston Police say one person has died.
Heavy flames could be seen shooting from the multifamily building on Homes Avenue just after 6 a.m. Monday. Neighbors, who say the victim lived in the top unit, were stunned.
"Tragic, real tragic," said Magalie Casseus, a neighbor. "I don't know what they're going to do."
The Boston Fire Department said on Twitter that flames were shooting from the third floor of the three-family house around 6:25 a.m.
The 2-alarm fire was knocked down at around 7:20 a.m.
Firefighters doused the house with water, but second-floor resident Russel Fig heard banging. He was overcome by smoke and had to be rescued.
"I thought it had been my wife and I opened it up and I see the smoke all over the place, and they escorted me out," Fig said.
Chris Hall, a resident of the building, learned his dog, China, was killed in the fire.
"I can't understand why," Casseus said. "Because China follows Chris everywhere...everywhere."
Firefighters were able to save one woman's cat from the second floor.
Boston 25 News learned late Monday evening that a death investigation is now underway. No identity has been released.
Damages to the building are estimated at $400,000. Investigators continue to work to determine what could have caused the fire.