Manhole fires may have been heat related
Windows at 5 High Street remain boarded up Tuesday, June 30, following damage caused when manhole fires broke out Saturday, June 27. The cause of the fires may have been heat related.
The manhole fires that occurred late afternoon on Saturday, June 27, and led to Medford Square being shut down may have been heat related, but National Grid is still investigating.
GKM contacted the fire chief's office but was told all communications needed to go through the mayor's office.
According to the mayor's communications director, Steve Smirti, there were fires in at least two manholes, possibly three, and they were on High Street between Forest and Bradlee.
According to Smirti, "National Grid believes it may have been heat related but is still investigating the cause. There was some window damage to businesses. And some internal manhole damage that was repaired by National Grid."
No injuries were reported, he said.
"National Grid tells us all is safe," Smirti said Monday evening, June 29.
According to Medford Police Public Information Officer Jessica Walsh, power was restored and the scene was clear around 3:30 a.m. the following morning.
The windows that were damaged during the incident were at 5 High St., she said.
When the manhole fires broke out late Saturday afternoon, police rerouted vehicle and pedestrian traffic and evacuated some businesses in the area. National Grid cut the power to the area around 6 p.m.
The shut-down extended up Forest Street to Lawrence Road, from Riverside Avenue to River Street, and out to the Winthrop Street rotary.
GKM has contacted National Grid and will update this story when more information is available.
