“The weather just made it lousy for everyone,’’ MacDonald said. “It just makes it harder to fight when you have snow coming down and wind.’’
That conflagration burned well into the night, drawing five alarms and 130 firefighters, and claiming the life of an 8-month-old pit bull at 37 Calumet St., officials said.
However, the news was better for the first floor resident a few doors away at 41 Calumet St. - and for her large animal menagerie. The city’s Animal Control officers, rescue workers, and neighbors rescued at least 22 cats along with two birds, two dogs, and two turtles, one of which reportedly weighed roughly 50 pounds.
The resident could not be reached for comment.
One neighbor, Paraag Maddiwar, 37, said he was awoken by the commotion, saw the fire, and was immediately concerned for the pet owner and her flock.
“We came down and brought her some clothes and brought some cat carriers,’’ Maddiwar said.
In Somerville about 11 p.m. Saturday, a fire broke out inside Hawk Cleaners on the corner of Clarendon Avenue and Broadway in the city’s Teele Square neighborhood. The flames spread to three businesses: Nail Image salon, Kee Kar Lau Chinese restaurant, and Maria’s Italian Cold Cuts. Also a casualty was the Somerville Police Department’s west substation.
No one was hurt in the fire, but the single-story strip mall will have to be torn down, city spokeswoman Jacqueline Rossetti said.
“It’s a total loss,’’ Rossetti said.
On Mission Hill yesterday, fire crews continued to pour water on the smoldering remains of the burnt out houses, which were populated largely by college students and young professionals, officials and landlords at the scene said.
Tony Naranjo, 34, said his niece lived in a second-floor front apartment and was asleep in the unit, along with one roommate, when the fire broke out. The 20-year-old Emmanuel College student, whom he did not name, was treated for smoke inhalation and is in stable condition.
“She just moved in,’’ Naranjo said. “She lost everything.’’
Moments later, a fire investigator who inspected the charred building emerged with a sodden photo album that belonged to Naranjo’s niece. He handed the thick black book to Naranjo, the pages swollen with water.
“It’s soaked,’’ Naranjo said. “But it will make it.’’
A spokeswoman for Boston’s Inspectional Services Department said more information regarding possible code violations at the Calumet Street building may be available today.
Matt Byrne can be reached at mbyrne.globe@gmail.com. John Guilfoil of the Globe staff, and Taylor Miles and Alexander C. Kaufman, Globe correspondents, contributed to this report.
