8-Alarm Fire Guts South Boston Building Under Renovation
SOUTH BOSTON (CBS) — Firefighters quickly brought an eight-alarm fire in a commercial building in South Boston under control early Tuesday morning.
Flames broke out around 4:30 a.m. in the five-story brick building on Summer Street near South Station and the Convention Center.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
South Boston Fire
View: Photo Gallery Of Fire
Within minutes, it raged out of control and jumped to eight alarms. Windows on the first three floors were blown out and firefighters were ordered not to go into the building.
But they had it under control in about an hour.
The building was under renovation and everyone inside escaped safely. Damage is estimated at $2 million.
View: Google Street View Of Building Before Fire
According to the Boston Fire Department, cleaners were in the building at the start of the fire. Firefighters had to force open the front doors, but the cleaners got out the back door.
One of the construction workers told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens that he believed the fire started with an explosion of a machine on the second floor. Stevens was also told the workers were removing asbestos from the building recently. The fire department has not confirmed that.
There's no official word yet on a cause.
Firefighters are still unable to get into the building because parts of it are still burning.
Check: Traffic Updates
MassDOT has opened the South Boston Bypass Haul Road to help relieve traffic issues in the area.
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