Massachusetts Statehouse evacuated after basement fire

The Massachusetts Statehouse was evacuated Tuesday after an electrical fire in the basement, and was set to remain closed for the rest of the day.

The 2:12 p.m. blaze broke out in a transformer room in a sub-basement, Massachusetts State Police said, adding that the Boston Fire Department was on the scene and that the utility company was “working to isolate and cut power to line that was arcing.”

Evacuees included Mass. Gov. Maura Healey, who was seen walking out of the building and heading toward her car at 2:23 p.m., toting a backpack, WBTS reported. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll also exited, notifying constituents that she was safe. No injuries have been reported.

Shortly after the fire broke out, state police spokesman Dave Procopio told reporters there were “smoke conditions” elsewhere in the building.

State House Superintendent Tammy Kraus said “ongoing concerns regarding elevated carbon monoxide levels” meant the building would be closed the rest of the day, the Boston Herald reported.

By around 5 p.m., the fire had been extinguished and firefighters were reportedly “escorting employees into the building to retrieve their belongings.”

It was the second evacuation of the day, after an 11 a.m. emergency alarm activated by two people sent most of the building’s occupants outside for about 15 minutes, WBTS said.