BOSTON --

Four floors of a Boston high-rise condominium complex had to be evacuated Sunday afternoon following a three-alarm blaze.

The fire broke out in a unit on the 25th floor of 151 Tremont Street at about 12:30 p.m.

“We just heard some commotion and looked out the window and saw the fire ladder so we knew something was not right,” said resident Tryggvi Thorgeirsson. “We had two babies in the apartment so we just grabbed them and went down.

Crews were able to safely evacuate residents from the building by bringing them down a freight elevator.

“It was scary to open a door and see your hallway completely filled with smoke,” said resident Bob Mitchell. “That was a little frightening when you’re up on the 23rd floor.”

Fighters had to break a window in the unit where the fire started to let the smoke out but were able to quickly douse the flames.

“The hallway was charged with heavy smoke so we do that to release the smoke and the gases so we’re able to maneuver hose lines,” said Boston Dep. Fire Chief Robert Calobrisi. “So that was a necessity to do in order to fight the fire.”

Three people were treated on scene for minor injuries. One firefighter was taken to an area hospital for cuts to his face.

Fire officials said careless disposal of a cigarette was to blame. Authorities estimated the damage at $300,000.

Copyright 2011 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.