A fire in an electrical room at Boston Medical Center – Brighton early Wednesday morning triggered a complex and high-risk evacuation of intensive care patients. The blaze, which broke out around 1:30 a.m. at the former St. Elizabeth’s Hospital site on Cambridge Street, destroyed a generator and created an urgent situation for patients dependent on critical care systems.
In response, firefighters and hospital staff worked together to safely evacuate 24 patients, physically carrying them down stairwells in Stokes baskets before transferring them to other hospitals. Despite the disruption, hospital officials confirmed that all patients and staff remained safe, with no reported injuries. While the hospital continues operating on backup power, its emergency department has temporarily stopped accepting new patients, and some elective and outpatient services are being rescheduled. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.