A raging Massachusetts fire at a three-story Allston house early this morning has sent seven Boston University students to the hospital. A few people had to jump out off a top floor window to escape to safety. At least one person is in critical condition.
The Boston Fire Department says the fire is under investigation to determine its cause. The building is listed as a single-family home with the Assessing Department. However, fire officials said that the structure had been turned into apartments with students residing on different floors, including the attic and the basement.
It is not known at this time whether the building had working fire detectors. The damage to the building from the Boston fire was so severe that it will likely be torn down.
Unfortunately, fire accidents do happen and thousands of people are injured and killed as a result. According to the US Fire Administration, 16,705 people were injured and 3,320 others killed in 2008 in the US alone. 84% of civilian fire fatalities took place in residences. There were over 1,400,000 reported fires that year. 36% of them were structure fires.
If you or someone you love suffered burn injuries or other injuries fire that you believe was caused by another party’s negligence or could/should have been prevented, you should talk to a Boston injury lawyer immediately. Common causes of building and residential fires:
• Faulty wiring • A fire left on accidentally and/or without supervision • A candle knocked over • A defective electrical product that malfunctioned • Lighting equipment or electrical system malfunction
It is the responsibility of property owners to make sure that their premises do not have any foreseeable fire hazards and that there are proper fire prevention and safety measures in place. This could include working fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and (when buildings are involved) fire escapes and/or fire exits. That said, property owners are not the only one that may be held liable in the event of Massachusetts burn injuries or deaths resulting from a fire. For example, the manufacturer of a defective electrical product could be held liable, as the operator of the business where a fire broke out.
Students leap from upper floor of Allston building to escape fire; one critically injured, Boston.com, January 22, 2012
Seven BU students hurt in raging fire, Boston Herald, January 22, 2012
More Blog Posts:
Electrical Issue May Have Cause Fatal Westfield, Massachusetts Fire that Killed Elderly Couple, Boston Injury Lawyer, February 18, 2011
Quincy Apartment Where Fire Killed Father and Two Children Was in Illegal Basement and Didn’t Have Sprinklers or Working Smoke Alarm, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, September 3, 2009
58 Fire Fatalities in Massachusetts in 2007, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 4, 2008
Contact Altman & Altman LLP today and ask to speak with an experienced Boston burn injury attorney.