Five displaced after two-alarm overnight fire damages Juniper Street multifamily home in Boston’s Roxbury

Fire breaks out before dawn in tight residential corridor

A two-alarm fire tore through a multifamily home on Juniper Street in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood early Friday, January 30, 2026, displacing five residents and prompting an overnight emergency response under frigid winter conditions. The fire began around 1:30 a.m. and was largely knocked down after crews reached the building and mounted an interior and exterior attack.

All five occupants were able to get out of the home safely. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.

Snowbanks and icy streets complicated access for apparatus

Firefighters faced significant logistical constraints as they worked in a narrow neighborhood street network with large snowbanks and frozen surfaces. Responders were unable to position trucks as close to the building as desired and carried ladders and equipment to reach the scene. City crews salted roadways during the incident as temperatures hovered in the single digits, creating slip hazards and increasing operational risk.

“Bad things always happen on very cold nights and very hot days,” a deputy fire chief said at the scene, describing the additional challenges posed by frozen ground and the risk of slipping for crews working around hose lines and ladders.

Residents sheltered on an MBTA bus; relief services responded

With the home no longer immediately habitable, the displaced residents were sheltered on an MBTA bus at the scene while responders continued overhaul operations and monitored for remaining hot spots. The American Red Cross also responded to assist residents with short-term needs following displacement.

Officials did not immediately provide an estimate of damage or a timeline for when residents might be able to return. Such determinations typically depend on the extent of fire, smoke, and water damage, as well as inspections of electrical and structural systems.

Origin under investigation, with early indication in ceiling area

Investigators are expected to return later Friday to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Early information from command at the scene indicated the fire may have started in a ceiling area of the home. Officials have not identified a specific ignition source, and no formal cause has been released.

Key confirmed facts

• Location: Juniper Street, Roxbury, Boston
• Time: Around 1:30 a.m., Friday, January 30, 2026
• Alarm level: Two-alarm response
• Impact: Five residents displaced
• Injuries: None reported
• Status: Cause remains under investigation

Boston fire officials said they will provide additional details as investigators complete scene examinations and interviews.