Mar 10, 2008 2:18 pm US/Eastern
Fire At Boston Hotel Shuts Down Boylston Street
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
-
-
Construction Worker, David Giacalone captured the fire on his cell phone shortly after it began.
David Giacalone/WBZ
-
-
Fire broke out at 800 Boylston Street, where the Mandarin Hotel is under construction.
WBZ
A fire at a construction site filled the early morning sky with smoke in downtown Boston Monday morning and closed off part of Boylston Street.
The four alarm fire broke out at about 7:43 a.m. at the Mandarin Hotel at 776 Boylston Street, between the Prudential Center on one side and Lord & Taylor on the other side.
Fire department spokesman Steve MacDonald says construction materials caught fire.
The blaze appears to have started in some cabinets on the fourth floor of the 15 story hotel.
A spokeswoman for contractor Suffolk Construction Co. says the fire appeared to have started in those cabinets in a fitness room being built.
"There was some cabinetry which is out understanding that that's where the fire started, with the top portion of those cabinets," said spokeswoman Kim Steimle. "We don't know exactly what caused the fire yet."
The heavy fire was quickly knocked down, but continued to send big plumes of white smoke into the Boston sky.
"There were heavy smoke conditions when they got up there," said Boston Fire Deputy Chief Richard Debenedetto. "Obviously there was insulation which creates a heavy smoke condition."
Construction workers at the sight were evacuated, and one was treated for minor burns.
"When everybody said get out they shot the horns. People were pretty professional, everybody was out of the building pretty quick," said David Giacalone, one of the construction workers working on the building.
Boylston Street was blocked off for a time near the fire scene.
The lower levels of the building suffered heavy smoke and water damage.
Steimle said the building of luxury condos and rental units was slated to open in July, but she had no comment on whether that would be delayed.
In a statement released Monday afternoon she said it would take about a week for officials to fully evaluate the impact to the project.
"
The fire damage was contained to only the fitness area, which is still under construction and located in the lower hotel floors of the east building. There is absolutely no damage to the condominium units, to the typical hotel rooms, and to the apartments," she said in the statement. The statement also said that an extensive and thorough clean up had already begun and full construction would resume on Tuesday. Steimle also said that they were greatful no one was hurt seriously, and that the fire was contained and put out so quickly. She also praised the "heroic work" of the Boston Fire Department.
All in all officials said there could have been a lot more damage, as none of the tenants has moved in yet.
The hotel is owned by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group based out of Hong Kong. Their Boston luxury hotel is expected to open sometime in 2008. You can learn more about these hotels by
clicking here. Is there something more you would like us to know about this story? Do you have a news tip to share with WBZ?
Email Us and be part of our news gathering team.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Michael Jackson Remembered
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Jail Evacuated After Sprinklers Flood Building 1 hr 47 mins ago
Hyannis Man Loses License For Life After OUI 1 hr 13 mins ago
Stumble It!
