Reading Post Office, Bank Temporarily Closed After Electrical Fire

READING, MA — The Reading Post Office and the Reading branch of Eastern Bank had to temporarily close on Thursday after an electrical fire broke out in the basement of their shared building at 123 Haven Street in Reading.

The building will now remain closed until a licensed electrician can examine and repair damaged equipment, according to Reading Fire Chief Greg Burns.

The fire drew Reading firefighters to the downtown area hours just before noon on Thursday, stemming from an electrical panel at 123 Haven Street, Burns told Patch on Thursday afternoon.

In addition to damaging electrical equipment, the fire also sent smoke through the building, Burns said.

Viewed on Thursday night, both the Reading Eastern Bank branch and the Reading Post Office had signs on their doors explaining that they would be temporarily closed.

The post office's sign directed postal service customers to the nearest area post office at 462 Washington Street in Woburn.

Eastern Bank users can visit nearby bank branches in Wakefield, Stoneham and Woburn for their banking needs while the Reading branch is closed.

The specific cause of this fire remained undetermined as of Thursday afternoon, according to Burns.