The Boston Fire Department is currently battling a 9-alarm fire at a 4-story brick rowhouse in the 200 block of Beacon Street in the Back Bay. According to news reports, two firefighters have been killed.

WBZ-TV tweeted:

Breaking News: Two Firefighters Killed In 9-Alarm Fire In Boston http://t.co/p62Y6MVNwZ @BreakingNews — WBZ Boston News (@cbsboston) March 26, 2014

Boston EMS says at least 18 people have been transported to area hospitals:

The current Boston EMS patient transport count for the Beacon Street Fire is now at 18. — Boston EMS (@BOSTON_EMS) March 26, 2014

The Boston Globe reports that the condition of the injured, as well as whether they are firefighters, civilians, or both, is still unclear:

A total of 18 people were transported to the hospital, Boston Emergency Medical Services spokesman Nick Martin said. Martin said he had no information on their conditions or whether they were firefighters or civilians.

Channel 7 reports:

Source tells me 2 firefighters suffered 3rd degree burns, 1 went into cardiac arrest, and 1 was reported missing #BREAKING @7News #BackBay — Adam Harding (@AdamHardingNews) March 26, 2014

The Boston Transportation Department is advising commuters to avoid the Back Bay area this evening. The City of Boston says:

Beacon Street is closed from the intersection of Arlington Street past the intersection of Fairfield Street. At this time, Beacon Street at Massachusetts Avenue remains open. Storrow Drive Eastbound is closed at the Fenway/Kenmore Exit. Commuters are being allowed to turn right from Commonwealth to Berkeley Street onto Storrow Drive Eastbound. Storrow Drive Westbound is closed at Leverett Circle.

Dustin Finch, a Massachusetts State Police Trooper says that Storrow Drive East will be closed soon:

#MAtraffic Storrow Dr EB (Inbound) about to be closed. — Dustin Fitch (@DustinGFitch) March 26, 2014


NECN is reporting that the Boston Police say the fire scene is now a “crime scene’’:

UPDATE: It was @BostonPolice who said scene of 9-alarm fire is now a crime scene, not @BostonFire as originally reported — NECN (@NECN) March 26, 2014

WCVB-TV reports that winds in the area are gusting up to 45 mph:

Winds in the area of the Beacon Street fire are gusting to 45 mph. #BREAKING — WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) March 26, 2014

The fire began in the building’s basement and traveled upward. WBZ-TV also reports, “No residents of the building have been reported missing, according to authorities.’’

Here is a map showing the location of the fire:

Another 9-alarm fire took place in 2010 at a building not far from today’s blaze. The 7th and 8th floors of a 10-story condo building at 483 Beacon St. were engulfed in flames on April 7th of that year. Four residents and one firefighter were hospitalized and the building suffered approximately $3.5 million in damage.