Damage to Cooper Street Building Estimated at $1 Million

The tenants of 26 Cooper St. will not be going back to their apartments any time soon.

In fact, the fire that swept through the building late Tuesday night caused havoc to the brick structure such that it will be a few months to a year before it’s inhabitable, according to Firefighter Steve MacDonald, public information officer for the Boston Fire Department.

And that’s an optimistic estimate, he added.

“Deputy Chief Joseph Finn estimated the damage at $1 million,” McDonald said. “When it’s in livable shape again depends on a number of factors such as the owner, the insurance details, when and which contractors are hired.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

MacDonald said there were no injuries to the 100 firefighters who showed up on the scene at approximately 11:05 p.m. One of the tenants suffered burns and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where she was listed in serious condition this morning.

The other 12 tenants, mainly students, were not hurt and assisted by volunteers from the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts, according to Communications Director Kat Powers. Red Cross volunteers arrived on the scene at about midnight and provided financial assistance to seven residents as well as food, clothing, blankets and kits containing toothbrushes and other necessary items.

An article in the Boston Herald stated that the woman who was transported to the hospital appeared badly injured and that witnesses said she is in her 50s and has lived in the neighborhood for years.

The first to arrive on the scene were Ladder 1, Engine 8 from Hanover Street. Soon after, the other firefighters joined them, put the fire out in about an hour and remained on the scene until about 4 a.m., according to MacDonald.