WORCESTER, Mass. --
A Worcester family was mourning one of their own Friday morning after a fire ripped through their triple-decker on Chilmark Street.
NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that the blaze, which hospitalized several firefighters, claimed the life of Christina Lavoie, 47, a grandmother whose multi-generational family occupied the dwelling.
"She was a hard worker. Always took care of us kids. Always made sure we had anything, you know, us, our friends, everybody. She just treated everyone like they were hers, you know? Just a really, really good lady," her nephew Anthony Lavoie said.
Firefighters were not able to get to Lavoie, who was trapped in a third-floor bedroom after the fire broke out about 10 p.m. Thursday.
Her three grandchildren, who live on the first floor, were able to escape the blaze unharmed.
"We have a 9-year-old, a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old who were in the house at the time," their father said. "My brother George got them out of the house safely and without injury, so we're very thankful for that."
Eleven firefighters were injured in the fire and four remained hospitalized Friday morning. Officials said in some cases the blaze was so intense the flames penetrated their clothing.
"Firefighters made a valiant and heroic effort trying to rescue this victim. Some of the firefighters were burned trying to make that entrance. Firemen were burned right through their gear inside that third-floor apartment," District Fire Chief Frank Diliddo said.
The apartment was fully involved when fire trucks arrived. Chilmark Street is in a heavily congested neighborhood and crews worked hard to prevent the fire from spreading.
Investigators are looking into the cause of the fire.
