A pre-dawn fire at Boston Medical Center's Brighton campus forced an intensive care unit evacuation early Wednesday, with firefighters carrying some patients down stairwells after the hospital lost power. The blaze hit the Cambridge Street campus that once housed St. Elizabeth's, and crews moved multiple critically ill patients while they worked to secure the scene. Hospital workers and emergency crews scrambled to relocate roughly eight patients from the unit as investigators and fire crews assessed the damage. Officials said they were monitoring patient safety as power and access were evaluated.
Fire Knocked Out Generator, Crews Carried ICU Patients
As reported by WCVB, the blaze knocked out a generator at about 2 a.m., cutting backup power to the ICU and triggering urgent relocations. The station reported that firefighters carried ICU patients down stairwells and that roughly eight patients were moved out of the Cambridge Street facility. Reporters on scene said a press briefing was expected as crews continued working the incident.
Where This Happened
Boston Medical Center's location page lists the Brighton campus on Cambridge Street and identifies the site as the former St. Elizabeth's Hospital, part of BMC's Boston network. The Brighton facility provides inpatient and outpatient services, including intensive care, for the surrounding neighborhoods. The hospital's directory lists the campus at 736 Cambridge St. as its Brighton address.
BMC Takeover And Infrastructure Context
Boston Medical Center took over the Brighton campus as part of a larger acquisition of former Steward Health Care hospitals, and The Boston Globe has reported that the newly acquired sites required millions in repairs and upgrades. The Globe's reporting documented deferred maintenance and aging systems at several former Steward hospitals, issues hospital leaders have said they were working to address. That history has added scrutiny to infrastructure and safety at the Brighton campus.
Why Power Failures Force Hospital Evacuations
When backup generators or transformers fail during a fire, hospitals often have to cut power and move patients as a safety precaution and to allow firefighters to operate equipment safely. A 2023 transformer fire at Brockton Hospital forced the evacuation of roughly 160 patients while crews cut power and extinguished the blaze, CBS Boston reported. Those large-scale moves typically require mutual aid from surrounding ambulance and fire services to transfer patients to other hospitals or temporary care areas.
What Officials Say So Far
WCVB said reporters on scene were awaiting updates from Boston Fire and hospital officials and that a press conference was expected. At the time of the station's early morning report, crews were still securing the area and officials had not released a full account of the cause or patient destinations. We will update this story as Boston Fire or Boston Medical Center releases more information.
