BOSTON — Flames shot through the windows and roof of a three-story Mission Hill townhouse Thursday afternoon as a massive two-alarm blaze tore through the building — killing one person who was trapped on the top floor after the fire burned the staircase to nothing.

Firefighters who arrived at 4 Ellingwood Street around 2:50 p.m. were met with a wall of fire and black smoke pouring from every floor of the brick residential building.

The victim — whose identity has not been released — was found dead on the third floor after crews finally knocked down the inferno and made entry.

They never had a chance to escape.

The fire, which started on the first floor, raced upward through the building with devastating speed — engulfing the second floor and completely destroying the interior staircase that connected the upper floors to the exits below.

By the time firefighters arrived, the only way up was ladders from the outside.

'Fire on all 3 floors'

Deputy Chief Gerard Viola briefed reporters at the scene as the charred, blackened building smoldered behind him.

Deputy Chief Gerard Viola briefs the media on the 2 alarm fire on Ellingwood st. Firefighters arrived around 3:00 to fire on all 3 floors. Unfortunately it was fatal fire for 1 resident. BFD-FIU is investigating the cause of the fire. pic.twitter.com/LzwTcwosrY— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) February 27, 2026

The scene was apocalyptic. Ladders leaned against the scorched bay windows. Smoke still poured from the gutted interior. Firefighters in full gear worked the upper floors from the outside, checking for hotspots in the wreckage.

Witnesses on the street described flames shooting from the building's windows and thick black smoke visible from blocks away.

Three investigative units descend on the scene

The response to this fire goes far beyond a routine call.

Boston's Fire Investigation Unit is working to determine what started the blaze. The Arson Unit has been called in — standard for any fire that kills someone, but also a clear signal that investigators have not ruled out foul play.

And then there's the Homicide Unit.

While homicide detectives are sometimes dispatched to fire deaths as a precaution, the combination of all three units — fire investigation, arson, AND homicide — points to an investigation where nothing is being taken for granted.

No cause has been announced. No arrests have been made.

A building turned into a death trap

The destruction of the staircase is the haunting detail at the center of this tragedy.

In a multi-story residential building, the stairs are the lifeline — the only way out when fire blocks the doors. When those stairs are gone, the upper floors become a sealed box.

That's what happened at 4 Ellingwood Street.

Fire consumed the staircase from the first floor all the way to the third, cutting off the only internal escape route. Anyone above the first floor when the fire broke out would have been trapped — with flames below and no way down.

The victim was found on the third floor. The highest point. The farthest from escape.

What remains unknown

As of Friday morning, investigators have released almost no details beyond the basic facts:

• The victim's identity has not been made public. Their age, gender, and whether they lived in the building remain unknown.
• The cause of the fire has not been determined.
• Whether other residents were home at the time has not been confirmed.
• How many units were in the building — described as both a townhouse and a condo — is unclear.

The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents with housing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boston Police Department or the Boston Fire Department's Fire Investigation Unit.

This is a developing story.