No Cause On Manhole Blasts That Crippled RMV, Theater District
Investigation Ordered Into Cause Of Explosions
POSTED: 12:17 pm EST November 24,
2008
UPDATED: 5:08 pm EST November 24,
2008
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BOSTON -- Power came back after five hours, but it is still not entirely clear what caused several early-morning manhole explosions in Boston's Back Bay theater district Monday that knocked out power to dozens of buildings, closed streets and schools, and forced the entire Registry of Motor Vehicles to shut down for the day.
VideoNSTAR confirmed that the manhole blasts occurred near the intersections of Stuart, Tremont, Boylston and Washington streets about 5:45 a.m., affecting 1,000 customers, including the nearby Quincy Elementary and Upper Schools as well as the New England School of Law and the Radisson Hotel.Classes were canceled and students arriving for day classes found darkened buildings and closed doors."We'd like to run the evening division if we can but we have no power at this point, so there's not a lot we can do," said John O'Brien at the New England School of Law.Guests at the hotel found themselves out on the streets for awhile when the lights failed."No hair dryer and no Internet," one guest said.The biggest impact by far was at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. It's headquarters in the Transportation Building lost power, forcing the RMV to shut down all 35 of its state branches. There was no backup system for its computer servers."Unfortunately the RMV only has one data base and it's 25 years old and we are in the process of beginning to update that," said RMV spokesperson Ann Dufresne.NSTAR blamed an underground cable failure for the explosions, complicated by additional equipment damage. At the Marriott Courtyard Hotel on Tremont street, guests awoke to no electricity and an evacuation order after smoke from the blasts filled the basement, triggering the fire alarm."There was some smoke that came back from the explosion, whatever happened out on the street, which set off a smoke alarm in our hotel," hotel manager Alan Smith said.Boston Mayor Thomas Menino ordered an investigation into the cause of the fire.NSTAR said its crews will be working in the vicinity of Tremont, Stuart, Shawmut and S. Charles streets to repair the electrical system. NSTAR said it would halt its work during the hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to reduce traffic congestion.NSTAR said the work should take about 10 days to complete.
VideoNSTAR confirmed that the manhole blasts occurred near the intersections of Stuart, Tremont, Boylston and Washington streets about 5:45 a.m., affecting 1,000 customers, including the nearby Quincy Elementary and Upper Schools as well as the New England School of Law and the Radisson Hotel.Classes were canceled and students arriving for day classes found darkened buildings and closed doors."We'd like to run the evening division if we can but we have no power at this point, so there's not a lot we can do," said John O'Brien at the New England School of Law.Guests at the hotel found themselves out on the streets for awhile when the lights failed."No hair dryer and no Internet," one guest said.The biggest impact by far was at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. It's headquarters in the Transportation Building lost power, forcing the RMV to shut down all 35 of its state branches. There was no backup system for its computer servers."Unfortunately the RMV only has one data base and it's 25 years old and we are in the process of beginning to update that," said RMV spokesperson Ann Dufresne.NSTAR blamed an underground cable failure for the explosions, complicated by additional equipment damage. At the Marriott Courtyard Hotel on Tremont street, guests awoke to no electricity and an evacuation order after smoke from the blasts filled the basement, triggering the fire alarm."There was some smoke that came back from the explosion, whatever happened out on the street, which set off a smoke alarm in our hotel," hotel manager Alan Smith said.Boston Mayor Thomas Menino ordered an investigation into the cause of the fire.NSTAR said its crews will be working in the vicinity of Tremont, Stuart, Shawmut and S. Charles streets to repair the electrical system. NSTAR said it would halt its work during the hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to reduce traffic congestion.NSTAR said the work should take about 10 days to complete.Copyright 2008 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
