HUIT incident
Widespread HUIT network outage due to maintenance hole fire
HUIT experienced a notice incident on July 17, 2025 affecting Electricity and Wired Networking and 1 more component, lasting 4h 2m. The incident has been resolved; the full update timeline is below.
Affected components
Update timeline
- investigating Jul 17, 2025, 12:35 PM UTC
We are responding to a major network disruption on campus—primarily in Cambridge—caused by a maintenance hole fire. Eversource and the Cambridge Fire Department are on site addressing safety concerns. The incident has affected three fiber distribution fanouts (FDFs), contributing to a broad outage across multiple locations. Our fiber technicians are on site and ready to begin restoration once cleared by Eversource and the fire department. Currently known affected buildings include: 47 & 37 & 69 Banks Street Bryan Hall 5 Cowperthwaite Street 53 & 52-54 & 69 Dunster Street 3 & 9 Grant Street Hillel Leverett House Malkin Athletic Center 1000 Massachusetts Avenue Mather House 74, 78 & 90 Mount Auburn Street New Quincy House Ofer Building 17 South Street Smith Hall Harvard Kennedy School: Belfer, Littauer, Taubman, Rubenstein Weld Boathouse 20 Western Avenue (Temporary Trailer Switch) 69 Dunster 11 Peabody Terrace We are working to confirm the full scope of the impact and will share updates as available. Note: No fiber has been damaged—only power to network elements is affected.
- investigating Jul 17, 2025, 12:41 PM UTC
We are continuing to investigate this issue.
- monitoring Jul 17, 2025, 02:52 PM UTC
We continue to monitor the major network disruption on campus—primarily in Cambridge—caused by a maintenance hole fire. Eversource and the Cambridge Fire Department are on site addressing safety concerns. Estimated time of restoration is expected this evening. HUIT will continue to monitor progress and provide updates. Currently known affected buildings include: 47 & 37 & 69 Banks Street Bryan Hall (85 Dunster) 5 Cowperthwaite Street 53 & 52-54 & 69 Dunster Street 3 & 9 Grant Street Hillel (52 Mt Auburn) Leverett House (28 DeWolfe) Malkin Athletic Center (39 Holyoke) 1000 Massachusetts Avenue Mather House (10 Cowperthwaite) 74, 78 & 90 Mount Auburn Street New Quincy House 17 South Street Smith Hall (95 Dunster) Harvard Kennedy School: Belfer, Littauer, Ofer Building, Taubman, Rubenstein Weld Boathouse 20 Western Avenue (Temporary Trailer Switch) 11 Peabody Terrace
- monitoring Jul 17, 2025, 04:20 PM UTC
The majority of HUIT services have been successfully restored as of 11:46AM. Isolated clean up efforts are underway. If you continue to have any issues, please contact the HUIT Service Desk at 617-495-7777 or email [email protected].
- resolved Jul 17, 2025, 04:37 PM UTC
The majority of HUIT services have been successfully restored as of 11:46AM. Isolated clean-up efforts are underway. If you continue to have any issues, please contact the HUIT Service Desk at 617-495-7777 or email [email protected].