Watertown Police are closing down Galen Street just outside Watertown Square due to a fire at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Newton Corner on Tuesday afternoon.
Newton firefighters are fighting a two-alarm fire at the hotel, which is located above the Mass. Pike at Exit 17. Galen Street becomes Centre Street and heads right into the rotary that goes around the hotel. Just before 2 p.m., the Mass. Department of Transportation announced that Exit 17 will be temporarily closed due to “fire department activity.”
According to NBC Boston Channel 10, the blaze was on the ninth floor and heavy smoke was reported when firefighters arrived at about 1 p.m. The fire has been brought under control. See more details here.
At about 1:45 p.m., the Watertown Department of Public Works and the Police Department began working to close traffic on Galen Street at Watertown Street. Newton Police have closed down Washington Street westbound, too.