A fire in the basement of the Massachusetts State House on Tuesday afternoon prompted the evacuation of state legislators, Governor Maura Healey, and other personnel. The building will remain closed on Wednesday as a safety precaution due to elevated carbon monoxide levels detected after the fire.

The fire, reported at 2:12 p.m., led to the safe evacuation of Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and others. While a morning fire alarm proved to be false, the afternoon alarm signaled a genuine emergency. Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke reported that the fire originated from burning high-voltage wires connected to a basement transformer.

The fire's location within a tunnel and the resulting smoke and poor air quality complicated the firefighting efforts. Firefighters had to access the area through manholes and shut off power to the transformer before extinguishing the flames. The fire was fully contained by approximately 5 p.m.

Although the building sustained no structural damage, some rooms may have suffered smoke damage. While the exact cause is still under investigation, initial assessments suggest overheated wires as a possible culprit. Governor Healey expressed gratitude for the rapid response and evacuation efforts by the Boston Fire Department, Massachusetts State Police, and DCR Rangers.

The Boston Fire Department highlighted the challenging conditions faced by firefighters due to the heat and humidity, noting their use of a fan relay system to clear the building of dangerous carbon monoxide levels.