‘A wall of black smoke': Residents recounts terrifying escape from fire in Roxbury

A firefighter was taken to the hospital and seven people were forced from their home Friday when fire broke out at a building in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood.

The firefighter who was transported had minor injuries, officials said.

Firefighters responded to the three-family home on Dorr Street Friday evening.

Norman Phaneuf says at first he could see smoke billowing from a heater.

“I can smell it, no alarm, then fire, fire, fire, all the alarms," he described.

The fire spread quickly. Investigators say they could see flames on the second floor, moving to the third floor and the attic when they arrived.

“I started opening doors, looking for my roommate, the fire was in his room and I got hit by a wall of black smoke, I knew I had to get out of there quickly, no time to grab my coat.”

Phaneuf says he called 911 and ran out of his apartment.

Seven residents live in the three units in the building.

“I knocked on the doors of my neighbors to get them out of there,” Phaneuf said.

All the residents made it out safely.

There is extensive damage to the building especially to the rear porches on the second and third floors. The Red Cross has responded to help the displaced residents.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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