Residents of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood experienced a tense situation yesterday evening when multiple manhole explosions led to the evacuation of four buildings on Newbury Street. The initial manhole fire, reported at the intersection of Dartmouth and Newbury streets at 5:21 p.m., quickly expanded to six separate fires, confirmed by officials. The Boston Globe reported that no injuries were sustained, but Boston Deputy Chief James Greene noted the presence of low levels of carbon monoxide in several buildings and declared the situation "isolated to the manholes."
As firefighters investigated the scene, several streets, including a stretch of Newbury Street from Dartmouth to Gloucester, were shut down, impacting both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. According to a Boston 25 News report, witnesses described the sounds of the explosions as gunshots and noticed a distinctive smell of burning rubber. Despite the chaos, Boston Fire assured that the manholes were equipped with explosion-safe covers that prevented possible projectiles.
The fires prompted an immediate response from utility company Eversource, which acknowledged that a "limited number" of customers were without power, according to a spokesperson quoted by WCVB. Assurances were given that “safety remains our top priority," as stated in their coordination with the fire department and city officials.
Air filled with a faint odor of smoke and the sounds of emergency responders set the scene on Newbury Street, while residents witnessed the continuation of the fires and authorities worked to assess and repair the damages. Will Mountzoures, age 27, encountering the incident from his car, told The Boston Globe, "It’s such a busy street and area that you have to worry about pedestrians walking by," "It’s scary.” Greene shared that power restoration and further assessments might continue into the night while crews remained on the scene.
The cause of the fires has not yet been determined, but Deputy Chief Greene suggested to Boston 25 News that it is believed to be electrical in nature. The ongoing investigation aims to provide clarity and ensure preventative measures in one of Boston's most bustling districts.
