5 Alarm Fire In Boston Displaces 30 People Amid Heat Wave

BOSTON — Firefighters put out a fire that broke out in a home during Sunday afternoon's searing heat. No residents were injured, but some 30 people were displaced in the middle of the afternoon in Dorchester, according to fire officials.

The fire broke out just after 3 p.m. Sunday on Quincy Street. When firefighters got there, they saw flames and smoke coming from the back porches. By 3:45 p.m., the fire officials called a fourth alarm, asking for more help to put out the fire, after it spread to buildings next door. They called for more help, bringing the alarm up to a fifth alarm minutes later. By 4:45 p.m., firefighters had put out the heavy flames.

Crews fought the fire during one of the hottest days so far this year and while the city was under a Heat Emergency. It's not clear if any firefighters, all of whom wear heavy equipment and long sleeves and pants and hat to protect themselves from fire, were injured or had to be treated for heat exhaustion.

"Very trying conditions to fight a fire in the high temps and high humidity," said Cambridge officials via Twitter in relation to the Boston fire.

Red Cross was called in to help find housing for the displaced.

Chief of Operations Gerard Fontana told reporters the damages to the homes on Quincy Street are estimated so be at $400,000. Officials are investigating what caused the fire.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).