3-Alarm Fire in Boston Subway Tunnel

A three-alarm fire in an MBTA Red Line tunnel just north of the Downtown Crossing station, 426 Washington Street, injured at least twenty people last Thursday night (29 April). The fire also caused the shut down of service on three subway lines.

The fire was caused when an electric cable arced along the ceiling ten feet beyond the southbound platform; this caused an explosion in a transformer in the wall, setting up an extremely heavy smoke condition.  The initial box alarm was struck at 2158 hours.

Media Reports:

   WCVB-TV: MBTA Fire Shuts Down Subways, Injures Dozens (29 APR 10)

   WHDH-TV: Raw Interview: MBTA GM Davey (29 APR 10) 

   Boston Globe: Tunnel fire forces riders from several MBTA trains (30 APR 10)

   Boston Herald: Red Line running following station fire; delays expected (30 APR 10)

   WHDH-TV: Passengers react to Downtown Crossing fire (30 APR 10)

   WHDH-TV: Electrical fire cripples MBTA service (30 APR 10)

   WHDH-TV: MBTA investigating Red Line electrical fire (30 APR 10)

   WCVB Slideshow: MBTA Red Line Fire

   WCVB-TV: Cause Of MBTA Fire Sought (30 APR 10)

   Boston Globe: Fire prompts T to speed wire repairs (1 MAY 10)

Background Information:

   Boston Fire Department

   Wikipedia: Boston Fire Department

   Boston Fire Fighters Local 718

   Boston Emergency Medical Services

   Elliot Belin: Boston Fire Activity Report, April 2010 (See Incident #21652)

   Boston Fire Department Facebook Page

   Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority