Jan. 17--Authorities are probing what sparked a four-alarm blaze that gutted a Brookline apartment building yesterday but miraculously injured none of the residents, many of whom scampered out a back entrance before a fireball shot out the front door, witnesses and officials said.
"I just thought about getting out with my life," said Boston University law student Alex Freundlich, who escaped his smoky 1471 Beacon St. apartment through the fire escape. "I probably lost everything but my life, and that's the most important thing."
Brookline Fire Chief Paul Ford said it appears the fire started in the basement and moved quickly through the structure's walls before engulfing parts of the third and fourth floors.
Several residents said they were either awoken by roommates or a neighbor pounding at their door, a scene played out in the adjoining building where Heather Courtney and building superintendent Steve Jones said they ran through the halls screaming "Fire!" after seeing smoke and flames next door.
Resident Jenna Weber, 23, said she ran out only after a stranger knocked at her door. "I think we're all pretty thankful someone thought to alert us on their way out," she said.
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