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3 Buildings Involved In Massive Fire In Chelsea

CHELSEA (CBS) - Heavy flames consumed three triple-deckers on John Street in Chelsea Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses say the flames quickly moved from building to building.

"The first house was yellow that was all burning like crazy then the sidling on the white house started to melt and that just caught on," said witness Josephine Thomas.

Fire departments from all over the area responded, fighting it from all angles.

Chelsea Fire
Firefighters battle 5-alarm fire on John Street in Chelsea (WBZ-TV)

Water from their efforts turned backyards and streets into rivers.

"Everything is still in the house we got nothing with us," said Domingos Gomes, who lives inside one of the triple-deckers.

He was watching a soccer game with his dad, wife and two kids when he smelled smoke. At first, he thought it was someone grilling.

"Smelled smoke and when I went to go look where it was coming from, I just seen this fire coming out of the back porch or something like that," Gomes said.

They rushed out so fast they didn't even have time to get shoes. He's just glad they're all okay.

Chelsea fire
Fire on John Street in Chelsea (WBZ-TV)

"Thank God it happened during daytime we were able to know exactly where it was coming from," Gomes said.

Thick black smoke from the fire quickly filled his home, then the entire neighborhood for hours.

The call for the fire came in just before 4 p.m. It is unclear how the fire started.

The Chelsea fire chief said two firefighters were injured battling the blaze.

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