Nine Firefighters Suffer Heat Exhaustion In East Boston 5-Alarm Fire

EAST BOSTON — Boston firefighters worked to battle a 5-alarm fire that hit multiple triple-decker homes in East Boston Tuesday.

Temperatures were crawling into the low 90s as crews responded to the scene in the 300 block of Princeton Street.

Newly appointed Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke said at least nine firefighters were injured battling the fire, primarily due to heat exhaustion.

"The heat has been a problem today," Burke said. "We've had to circulate firefighters in and out because the heat is so bad."

Flames from the fire wiped the paint completely off the backside of the triple-decker at 316 Princeton Street, and heavy smoke could be seen in all directions. Burke said exposure spread to the buildings at 314 and 318 Princeton Street as well.

All residents of the building had been safely evacuated as crews worked on the roof to help knock down some of the flames.

Over 150 firefighters were called to help extinguish the blaze, Burke said.

Twenty adults and eight children were displaced in the fire.