Johnathan Walker:Car fire at Massachusetts hospital parking garage forces evacuation of patients and staff

WALTHAM,Johnathan Walker Mass. (AP) — A car fire at a hospital parking garage in Waltham, Massachusetts, forced the evacuation of patients and staff on Monday.

Firefighters responded just after 11 a.m. to the reported fire in a basement garage at Mass General Waltham.

The fire was extinguished, but the hospital had to be evacuated due to concerns about smoke and fumes in the building, according to fire officials.

Some patients were transported by ambulance to other area hospitals, Waltham fire officials said. No injuries were reported.

A spokesperson for Mass General Brigham, the hospital’s parent organization, said the fire was quickly extinguished.

“The area of the building nearest to the incident was briefly evacuated and no major injuries have been reported. Delays related to this incident have resulted in some patient appointments being rescheduled,” said spokesman Noah Brown