Charlestown Unaffected by Back Bay Fire

Two MBTA stations remain closed and power outages are expected to continue throughout the day after a transformer fire at the Hilton Hotel garage sent clouds of thick black smoke through the Back Bay neighborhood Tuesday night.

But none of that will have any direct impact on Charlestown. Charlestown Patch twitter followers reported, and District A-15 police confirmed that power remains online in the town.

The Mass. Ave. stop on the orange line reopened this morning, returning the line to normal service, while green line service is not stopping at Prudential and Symphony stops.

Meanwhile, one twitter user reports that traffic in Charlestown seems easier than that in other neighborhoods.

"So glad my office is in Charlestown and not over the bridge in Boston. Traffic's getting in looks brutal," @amykasden tweeted.

Power is said to be returning to more than a third of the 21,000 customers who lost it in the Back Bay, South End,  Chinatown, Theater District and Kenmore areas. 

Roads in Back Bay are open, except for a portion of Boylston Street near Mass. Avenue. The Pru Tunnel reopened this morning.

Fire Broke Out About 6:30 p.m.

Firefighters responded at about 6:30 p.m. to a 4-alarm electrical fire in the Back Bay Hilton parking garage after two large 115,000 volt transformers exploded, producing a thick, black smoke. 

The hotel was evacuated at 7 p.m. Officials advised all residents and those in the area remain indoors with windows closed.

Fire officials received reports of people trapped in elevators. And a radio report last night said the Restaurant at the top of the Pru was evacuated with patrons asked to walk down 52 flights of stairs.