Explosion, 2-Alarm Fire In Boston Prompts 2.5k People To Evacuate

BOSTON, MA — One firefighter was sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and some 2,500 people had to evaccuate after a two alarm fire broke out at 245 Summer St. People took to Twitter to report they heard an explosion near South Station just after noon.

The Boston Fire Department said they were alerted to the fire when a smoke alarm was activated and sent to them. When firefighters arrived they found heavy smoke and fire at the 12-story occupied commercial building and called for a second alarm.

By 12:50 p.m. officials said they'd successfully evacuated the building with no civilian injuries reported.

According to early police and fire scanner radio reports the fire may have been started by a transformer explosion in the basement of the building. It's still officially unclear as to the cause or damages, but fire fighters said they were able to put the fire out after making their way into a basement electrical vault.

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Photos courtesy Boston Fire