Aug 29, 2007 9:46 pm US/Eastern
2 Firefighters Killed Battling West Roxbury Blaze
WEST ROXBURY (WBZ) ―
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2 firefighters are killed and 5 others injured in a massive blaze at Thai Ho Restaurant in West Roxbury.
CBS
Two firefighters were killed Wednesday night and two others are on life-support after battling a massive blaze at a restaurant in West Roxbury.
Officials said the two firefighters were rushed to local hospitals where they died.
Two others are on life-support at area hospitals.
The 4-alarm fire broke out at Thai Ho Restaurant at 1727 Centre St., just before 9 p.m.
"From the top it was just smoke, but once it started coming out of the front of the building it was just crazy," said witness Brian Strickland. "It seemed like it was half way in the street. I've never seen anything like it. It was huge."
Three other firefighters were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Five of the seven firefighters were taken to Brigham Hospital, one was taken to Beth Israel and the other to Faulkner Hospital, officials said.
Boston Fire Chief Kevin MacCurtain said several firefighters from the first crew that arrived on scene entered the building to attack the fire. But the intense smoke and flames caused them to become disoriented and forced them to the ground.
"When they arrived they had heavy fire in the Thai restaurant with heavy smoke conditions on the block," MacCurtain said. "They advanced their lines into the store, and they became trapped and they were disoriented and they couldn't find their way out."
Fire crews that arrived moments later found the firefighters trapped inside and pulled them out. The firefighters that were killed were from Engine 30 Ladder 25 firehouse, the first firehouse to repond to the scene, officials said.
"The roof fell in. I believe at one point there were four or five firefighters that they took out. Two of them they were giving CPR (to) at the front of the building there," said witness Jim Cahill. "It didn't look too good. Hope to god they are alright, but it didn't look good."
No one was inside the restaurant when the fire broke out, officials said.
Several nearby businesses were also damaged from the fire including an art gallery and a dog boarding facility, though WBZ learned that no animals were injured in the blaze.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Boston Mayor Tom Menino was on scene for a time before going to one of the hospitals where the injured firefighters were taken.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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