MBTA Fire

Three workers were severely burned yesterday when a fire broke out at a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) construction site in Kendelt Square. The blaze did not disrupt services, but caused delays of up to 15 minutes.

The workers were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where they are listed in serious condition with facial burns, said a hospital spokesman.

The fire started at 11:35 a.m. when workers from the Comstock and Manzi contracting firm accidentally cut into a power line at an electrical substation which supplies power to the Kendall Square subway stop, a company official said.

No passengers were injured in the fire.

Power to the subway's signal system was cut off between the Harvard Square and Charles St. subway stops, forcing MBTA workers to manually operate the signals. The energy returned at 1:56 p.m., in time for rush hour.

Service on the MBTA's Red Line continued with delays of 10 to 15 minutes between trains, said MBTA spokesman Bill Litant Supplemental buses ran between the Harvard Square and Park St. stops to compensate for the delays.

The MBTA is conducting an investigation to estimate damages. (See photo, page eight.)