2-alarm fire prompts evacuation of 12-story downtown Boston building

BOSTON (WHDH) - A suspected electrical fire that broke out in a 12-story building in downtown Boston prompted officials to evacuate the high-rise Wednesday afternoon.

Fire crews responding to a reported fire in the area of 245 Summer St. about 12:15 p.m. were greeted by heavy smoke, according to the Boston Fire Department.

Photos from the scene showed fire apparatus with their ladders extended surrounding the building as heavy smoke poured from the lower level.

More than 2,500 workers were evacuated and there were no reported injuries.

Marino Gonzales, one of the people evacuated from the building, said he was loading his truck when he saw the smoke.

“We saw white smoke and then it began to turn dark, (and) we heard two explosions,” he said. “We were scared beacuse we were seeing the smoke and it was growing and growing, so we went out right away.”

Fire officials say the fire was contained to an electrical vault in the basement and Eversource officials have responded to the scene.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and exhaustion.

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