Crews Battle Fire, Heavy Smoke On Newbury Street In Boston

BOSTON (CBS) – Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire on Newbury Street in Boston on Christmas Day. The Fire Department tweeted that crews responded at 9:50 a.m. to a report of a fire in the rear of 128 Newbury Street.

"Fire and heavy smoke" were reported at the scene of the five-story brick building that contains three residential units and commercial space on the first floor. The department said the heavy fire had been knocked down as of 10:50 a.m.

There was fire on the first, second and third floors of the brownstone, according to the department.

"Because the fire ran in the void spaces, we had to open up all those walls in the rear," operations chief Andre Stallworth told reporters.

It's believed the fire started in a trash can and spread through the building. Firefighters "did a great job to contain the fire and keep it from spreading to the adjacent buildings," the department tweeted.

The fire displaced five residents. A retail space on the bottom floor was also damaged. Damage is estimated at $1.5 million.

Daniel Berman was the only resident home at the time of the fire. He told WBZ-TV he heard two people arguing in the alley behind his home. Moments later, he said, he heard an explosion and someone screaming to 'Get out."

"I didn't think anything at first, but then to be honest with you, I heard rumbling and that guy screaming and it was time to get out," Berman said. "My bedroom is gone. I've got nothing left in there. The books are ruined. Water damage, fire damage. The ceiling's literally caved in."

Building owner Jon Rotenberg said the building has been in his family for years and that he is helping the displaced families find a place to stay.

"The good news is that there's no loss of any personal life," Rotenberg said.