Manhole Fires Close Harvard Square

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Harvard Square was closed and five buildings evacuated early Friday when several manholes exploded and burned in Cambridge.

Crews were called to the scene near Massachusetts Avenue and Dunster Street about 2:30 a.m. after a cable malfunction sparked the explosions and electrical fires.

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Flames roared out of several manholes and smoke was seen coming from three other manholes nearby. The immediate area was closed as part of a safety precaution as the thick black smoke billowed high into the air above the square.

"We're checking the surrounding buildings ... no smoke or any carbon monoxide readings have been found in the MBTA, so that's why we're letting that stay open," a Cambridge fire chief said.

There were no immediate reports of any injuries, but the university's Holyoke Center, which includes an infirmary, was evacuated. Three patients were transferred.

"We were just trying to do our work, do our duties to get out of here and the fire alarms went off," one worker said.

Au Bon Pain restaurant was kept closed, as was Cambridge Savings Bank.

Pedestrians watched the fireworks in amazement.

"This is a little scary. Really scary," one woman said.

"This is crazy. The morning commute is totally thrown off," another bystander said.

Fire crews could not douse the flames. They said they had to wait for the fires to burn themselves out.

"It's too big of a risk because electricity does follow water," a firefighter said.

Officials ended up cutting the power that was feeding 13,000 volts of electricity to underground cables, fueling the blazes.

NStar said 700 customers were without electricity as a result of the blasts. Most of the businesses around the square were closed.

The manhole fires had a significant impact on morning traffic, with road closures on JFK Street, Brattle and Mt. Auburn streets and delays on Memorial Drive.

Buses were detoured around Harvard Square for most of the morning, but were allowed to resume their regular routes at about 10 a.m. The MBTA continued to run Red Line trains through the square after it was determined that it was safe to do so. MBTA officials reopened the main entrance to Harvard Station at about 10 a.m.

Motorists were advised to seek alternate routes.