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Fire caused by Christmas tree causes heavy damage in Dorchester

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A two-alarm fire in Dorchester on Monday caused a quarter-million dollars in damage to a three-story apartment building.

Boston firefighters responded to a brick apartment building at 86 American Legion Highway just after noon Monday. The fire department immediately called for a second alarm after arriving on the scene.

The fire began in a second-floor apartment, when the unit's Christmas tree was being moved, according to the fire department. As it went past the stove, a branch turned a burner knob on, which ignited the tree.  Subsequently, the fire escalated to the third floor of the building.

In total, eight adults and two children were displaced, and one person was sent to a nearby hospital with a leg injury.

Boston fire officials estimated the damage to be around $250,000, with one apartment sustaining heavy damage, and several others that had "significant" smoke, water and other damage.

The American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts responded to the fire to assist the displaced residents.