Small fire in utility trench near MIT frats is extinguished

By Globe Staff

Construction workers using propane torches in a utility trench this morning ignited a fire that forced the brief evacuation of at least three MIT fraternities on Memorial Drive in Cambridge.

Cambridge Deputy Fire Chief Paul Sheehan said the workers were using the torches to melt shrink wrap on pipes when the flames spread to wooden bracing in the trench, igniting it. He said the utility work did not involve natural gas pipeline.

Sheehan said the fire was quickly extinguished and that there were no injuries.

In a statement, MIT said that the fire broke out around 8:15 a.m. and was under control before 9 a.m. Students were allowed back into their housing before 10 a.m.

Several students said they were ordered out of their rooms by the police and as they left, they saw flames shooting out of the site on Amherst street. A photo of the fire posted on Twitter shows thick black smoke and flames.

MIT said the incident is under investigation by its own safety office and the Cambridge fire department.