An electrical fire at a building near Atlantic Station injured two contractors working there, prompting a high police presence at the Midtown Atlanta high-rise Saturday afternoon.
Atlanta fire officials said crews were sent to 271 17th Street after getting reports that a person was injured while working on routine electrical system upgrades on the 15th floor.
Firefighters found the two contractors, whose names were not released, suffering from “severe electrical shock,” officials said. They were taken to a hospital in critical condition.
The building on 17th Street houses law firms and an office for U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, among others.
After initial reports of a possible explosion around 3:30 p.m., Atlantic Station spokesperson Tara Murphy told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that there was not an explosion but confirmed the electrical fire. It was quickly contained by the building’s fire suppression system.
At the time of the incident, the contractors were performing electrical upgrades in the building “as part of planned construction activity,” fire officials said.
No events at Atlantic Station, including a scheduled tree-lighting service, were affected, Murphy said. Roads were closed briefly but reopened.
Officials said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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