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Firefighters Battle 8-Alarm Blaze In East Boston

BOSTON (CBS) - Firefighters were battling an 8-alarm blaze on Lexington Street in East Boston Wednesday night.

The fire started in the engine area of a car that was parked in an alley and then quickly spread to three surrounding apartment buildings.

East Boston Fire
Fire on Lexington Street in East Boston. (Photo from Tammy/Twitter)

The car that caught fire was parked next to 85 Lexington Street. The fire traveled from the car to the house which was about a foot away.

"Because it's East Boston and all the homes are in such close proximity to each other the chief went up to eight alarms with two additional ladder trucks," said Steve MacDonald of Boston Fire.

One firefighter was treated at the scene and transported by Boston EMS to get checked out at a hospital. The Red Cross says 35 people have been affected by the fire.

Most of the damage occurred at 85 Lexington Street, and the fire chief estimates the damage at $750,000.

Firefighters say the wind was not a factor fighting the flames, however, a BMW parked in front of a hydrant did cause some problems and crews had to break the windows to get their hoses through.

BMW fire
BMW parked in front of fire hydrant in East Boston. (Photo from @NEFirebuff/Twitter)

About half the city's available firefighters responded to make sure they could knock the fire down from outside.

On March 26, two Boston Firefighters were killed at a 9-alarm fire on Beacon Street.

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