Boston FFs Battle Fire in High-Rise Under Construction
By Jackson Cote
Source masslive.com
For the second time in two months, a fire has broken out at a 43-story high rise under construction in Boston, authorities said.
The fire at the high rise at 1 Congress St. started around 12 p.m. Saturday. Firefighters were trying to extinguish flames that were traveling through the ducts and shafts on multiple floors of the building, according to the Boston Fire Department.
A fourth alarm was eventually sounded for the fire. Thousands of feet of hose line were used to get water into the building to fight the flames in various locations of the high rise, the department noted.
Two firefighters were taken to the hospital by Boston EMS due to the heat, officials said.
Walls had to be opened up so firefighters could reach the flames, and saws were used to cut open duct work. Firefighters were rotated in and out of work by command staff to keep them from overheating amid the warm weather, according to authorities.
Due to the fire, multiple streets were closed around 1 Congress St., the Boston Police Department said. Drivers were urged to seek other routes and avoid the area if possible.
Saturday’s fire marked the second that has erupted at the high rise this summer. In late June, a fire broke out on the 20th floor of the building and eventually spread to the 21st floor, according to authorities. As many as 400 workers were in the tower at the time.
Within seven to eight minutes, firefighters quickly put out the fire, using stand pipe to help extinguish the flames, officials said.
There were no deaths, according to the fire department. However, two construction workers were injured.
The high rise building is part of the Bulfinch Crossing development in Downtown Boston. Rising to 600 feet, the one-million-square-foot tower is expected to be used for office space.
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