Careless disposal of a cigarette ignited a three-alarm fire in a North End apartment building early this morning that killed two men and left 12 other people homeless for Thanksgiving, including a baby, according to authorities.
One man died in a desperate attempt to flee the blaze by jumping from a window at the rear of the building. The second victim was later found in a second-floor apartment, where Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said it's believed the fire broke out in a bedroom.
"It's unfortunate and it's very, very tragic, especially in the holiday season. It's just tragic," MacDonald said, noting the men were the first to die in a fire in Boston in 2017.
The deadly blaze was reported at 1 a.m. Firefighters arriving to smoke showing immediately set about "escorting several people down the front stairs," MacDonald said.
"A man and a woman and an infant were rescued by Ladder 18's aerial ladder," he said. "But tragically, one resident jumped from the rear of the building."
MacDonald said it was not immediately clear if the fatally injured man died from the fall or the fire.
"The cause of death in both fatalities will be up to the medical examiner," he said.
Scorched brick, shattered glass and blackened awnings greeted pedestrians as dawn broke on Hanover Street this morning above the Trattoria II Panino restaurant.
Larry Leibowitz, who lived in the apartment next to where the fire started, was allowed to go back in his home this morning to pack a tote bag with clothes.
Leibowitz, his eyes welling with tears, said his unit was unscathed, but because the utilities are shut off it could be days before he can return.
Leibowitz was not home when the fatal fire started.
"It's a holiday. This is something you never expect," he said, his voice breaking. "I just feel bad for the victims."
Dianna Breda said she and her husband, who lived on the third floor, are alive today thanks to working smoke alarms and firefighters who put oxygen masks on their faces and walked them to safety.
"I can't express it. We're very, very lucky," Breda said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Breda said she was awoken by fire alarms.
"I heard the fire department come and I said to my husband, there's something. I got out of bed. The smoke was coming inside the house and I said, something's wrong. I said just put on a jacket. The firefighters came and out the masks on and walked us down. I couldn't breathe anymore there was so much smoke."
Breda did not know the men who died.
North End business magnate Frank DePasquale, who owns Panino and 11 other eateries, looked stricken as he stood outside his shuttered restaurant, rain beating down on crews still clearing the damage.
DePasquale is providing temporary housing for the displaced families who need it, even though he does not own the residential portion of the building.
He declined comment, but said in a statement: "A fire started in an apartment in the building above where Trattoria Il Panino is located early this morning. The fire did not impact the restaurant and our hearts go out to the victims and the families who had to encounter the tragedy during this holiday season.
"We are grateful that our staff are all safe and accounted for, but we hurt for the two neighbors and friends who perished. This is no way to start the holiday season, and we will be here to help our neighbors who are affected today.
"The North End is a very special place full of very special people and this news saddens us to the core as we are proud to be part of the community."
MacDonald said the property loss is estimated to be $1.5 million. In addition to the eatery there are eight residential units on floors two through five.
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BOSTON (CBS) – Two people are dead and three hurt after a devastating fire in the North End early Wednesday morning.
Flames broke out on the second floor of a 5-story apartment building on Hanover Street around 1 a.m.
A 33-year-old man died after jumping from a top-floor window to escape the fire. Another man was found dead inside a second floor apartment.
“Smoke was coming in my room,” his roommate told reporters. “I got up to ask him why the house was so smoky and he’s like ‘Help me, help me put this out!’ and I started filling up a pan of water and it was just useless, it was fruitless. And I said, ‘Matt we have to go, it’s just too big,’ and I ran out the door and I thought he was coming behind me but he must have still been staying to put the fire out.”
Firefighters rescued a family of three from the apartments on Hanover Street. (WBZ-TV)
The victims names have not been made public.
A mother, father and a three-year-old child were rescued with a ladder truck and rushed to Tufts Medical Center. About 12 residents are now looking for another place to live.
The fire started on the second floor of the building. (WBZ-TV)
Investigators say the fire started because of “careless disposal of smoking material,” later identified as a cigarette, in a second floor bedroom.
The fire department says damage is estimated at $1.5 million.
A restaurant, Trattoria Il Panino, is on the ground floor of the building.
“The fire did not impact the restaurant but our hearts go out to the victims and their families who had to encounter this tragedy during the holiday season,” Maria DeNapoli, a spokesperson for the restaurant, said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“We are grateful our staff is all safe and accounted for, but we hurt for our neighbors and friends who perished. This is no way to start the holiday season and we will be here to help our neighbors who were affected today. The North End is a special place full of special people and this news saddens us to our core as we are a proud part of this community.”
According to the state fire marshal, smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths in Massachusetts. In the last decade there have been more than 2,000 smoking-related fires, resulting in 68 deaths, 157 injuries, and more than $90 million worth of property damage