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As Mattapan Fire Rages, Red Cross, Community Step In With Help And Courage

BOSTON (CBS) – The Red Cross is helping seven families displaced by Saturday's fire on Old Morton Street in Mattapan.

READ MORE: Nine-Alarm Fire In Dorchester Spreads To Multiple Homes

The Rosados were among the families impacted, and 11-year-old Christopher Rosado's dad is an EMT who grabbed his equipment and helped treat firefighters battling the smoke and flames.

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Eleven-year-old Christopher Rosado's family was displaced by the Mattapan fire Saturday. His dad is an EMT who grapped his equipment and helped treat firefighters battling the smoke and flames. (WBZ-TV)

"There's still some hot spots coming up that the firefighters are having to knock down. There was just one a couple of minutes ago over at one of the houses where the roof caved in so we have to stay at a hotel tonight because there's smoke damage," Christopher Rosado said.

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A heavy fire started in a vacant building on Old Morton Street in Mattapan and quickly spread to adjacent buildings. (Photo credit: Boston Fire Department)

Meanwhile, his aunt, Jennifer Rosado, had other concerns.

"I was thinking just get my niece and my nephew out of the house safely and sound and try to get to the safety area that we were supposed to go," she said.

"I thought our house was gonna burn down because it was a very big fire," said the youngest Rosado, Mackenzie.

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As the Red Cross is helping families displaced by the Mattapan fire, others in the community also stepped up to help. (WBZ-TV)

Another witness saw a UPS driver who made multiple rescues before he collapsed and needed the attention of first responders.

"I saw the UPS driver take the older lady and walk her across the street, as well as two Irish men," Raul Garcia said. "The UPS driver collapsed to the floor because he was the first one to enter the home and help the older lady out, and he was getting first responder help right away."

The Red Cross has set up a shelter at Gallivan Community Center at 61 Woodruff Way in Mattapan impacted by the fire. For help, call 617-635-5252.

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