Boston firefighters knock down fire inside Chinatown restaurant; no injuries reported

By Globe Staff

Some 25 people are now homeless as a result of a two-alarm fire that began in the kitchen area of a Chinatown restaurant before spreading upward to apartments on the upper levels of the four-story building, according to the Boston fire department.

The fire apparently started in the kitchen area of the GaGa Seafood restaurant at 25 Tyler St. around 9:45 a.m. today, the department reported in official tweets.

Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said the fire spread into the ductwork inside the kitchen and then traveled upward and extended the fire to each floor. Fire investigators concluded the cause of the fire was a stove in the restaurant that was left on overnight.

Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Finn estimated damage at $300,000, MacDonald said.

One firefighter suffered an eye injury when he got glass into one of his eyes, MacDonald said. He was taken to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary for treatment, and is expected to be released today.

The fire required a two-alarm response by the department to bring the blaze under control.

Fire officials reported that there are seven apartments on the upper floors of the building and that at least 24 people are now homeless due to smoke and water damage.

The fire also impacted a total of seven businesses, the department said. MacDonald said electricity had to be cut to the restaurant because of the damage, which resulted in power being cut to the other businesses in the building.