Boston firefighters were forced into action as they battled flames in frigid temperatures at a Jamaica Plain home Thursday, and, thanks to the barking of a dog, residents were able to escape the building early.
The Boston Fire Department tweeted that flames began building around 4:05 p.m., with fire showing from the second floor of the home.
No one was injured, but four people were displaced on one of the coldest days of the year.
Two residents who live on the first floor of the home said their dog, Belinda, alerted them to the flames.
"Yeah, Belinda, she's the hero!" James Richardson said. "We were inside, we were just hanging out. The way we heard about it was Belinda started barking, we heard a sound, kind of like a popping sound, something falling. My natural instinct is to look outside the window and I saw flames."
Flames poured from the second-story window, but firefighters were able to put out the fire in just under an hour.
Howevert, the challenges they face in frigid temperatures make it much harder for crews, with the department calling two alarms for extra help.
"Frozen hose lines, frozen equipment were the biggest challenges," Boston Fire District Chief Pat Nichols said. "And, of course, frozen sidewalks, and, of course, making everything slippery."
Meanwhile, the people that called the building their home were left displaced on the chilly night, but said several friends and family members had already offered up places to stay.
"It was very surreal," Noah Bondy said. "I felt it was like an out of body experience to be like, 'My house is on fire.' It’s not something that you think is really going to happen to you."
Fire officials said the cause is under investigation, but said the home is not a total loss.
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