UPDATE: (6:10 p.m.) Northeastern spokesperson says seven students displaced in the fire are being assisted by university.
By Zac Estrada, News Staff
Seven Northeastern University students are among dozens of residents displaced from their apartments this morning after a five-alarm fire gutted three buildings on Calumet Street in Mission Hill.
Boston Fire Department (BFD) officials announced the fire was caused by lint build-up in a dryer at 37 Calumet St. The dryer was in a room next to the kitchen of a second-floor unit.
Firefighters responded to a 12:45 a.m. call from the duplex at the 37-39 Calumet St. building. After firefighters arrived at the scene, the blaze spread to 41 Calumet St, likely because of heavy winds. Crews poured water on 35 Calumet St. to prevent the building from catching on fire as well.
“The university has been working with the students who have been impacted by the fire. There are at least four,” Northeastern Director of Communications Renata Nyul said in an email to The News. “We have housing and dining arranged for all of them and are providing all necessary and appropriate assistance as needed.”
Nyul said the Department of Housing and Residential Life (ResLife), Northeastern University Division of Public Safety (NUPD), Community Affairs and We Care student support program are assisting Northeastern students who are also fire victims.
One woman was treated for smoke inhalation, but there were no other injuries. Nyul said she is not affiliated with the university.
From the three destroyed complexes, 29 people were displaced, according to numbers released by BFD around 4:40 p.m. Twelve people will be able to return to 35 Calumet St. once power is restored.
Water runoff from the fire flooded the basements of six complexes on Wait Street, below Calumet Street. BFD said 60 people have been removed from those homes and 12 who live in basement units will not be able to return tonight.
Fire officials pegged damage costs around $1.2 million.
In September, a fire caused by a faulty heating and ventilation unit at 90 Westland Ave. displaced 12 Northeastern students.
