3-alarm fire leaves 8 homeless in Roslindale

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

By Globe Staff

A three-alarm fire destroyed a Roslindale home early today and left a family and a neighborhood wondering how the fire started.

“We don’t know why,’’ said Barbara Nova, whose two-family home in the 4000 block of Washington street in Roslindale was gutted by the intense fire. “We don’t know how.’’

Boston fire department spokesman Steve MacDonald said the department’s fire investigation unit is searching for arson, among other possible causes, for the 3:45 a.m. fire. An accelerant sniffing dog investigated the front porch area and investigators collected charred remains from the same place. But MacDonald stressed that no conclusion has been reached on how, when or where, the fire started.

“Nothing’s been ruled in and nothing’s been ruled out,’’ he said, adding it might be several days before investigators reach a conclusion on the cause and origin of the fire.

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

Nova, in an interview in the driveway of her home, said she and her family live in the upper two floors and that a woman both lives and operates a day care facility on the first floor.

She said a total of eight people, including herself her husband and their three children, were inside this morning. They were alerted to the danger by the sound of a smoke alarm and shouts of neighbors.

Nova said that if the arson becomes the cause she will be unable to understand why her home would be targeted. ‘We have no enemies,’’ she said.

MacDonald said the fire moved very quickly and that the fire department reacted quickly. "The first arriving truck called off fire showing. Seconds later they struck a second alarm. Seconds after that they struck a third alarm,’’ MacDonald said.

It took about 20 minutes to knock down the largest flames and another hour to douse the remaining hot spots, MacDonald said. The blaze caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to the home and adjacent houses where the heat melted the vinyl siding. Also, the chimney fell off Nova's home, collapsing onto her neighbor's car.

That neighbor, John Margetis, was relieved no one was seriously hurt or killed by the fire, the sound of which awoke him today. "I thought it was hail coming down,'' he said. adding he was one of many neighbors who then called 911.

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