Fire crews respond to underground electrical vault fire in Seattle

SEATTLE — Firefighters evacuated a one-block radius around Western Avenue and Columbia Street in downtown Seattle as a precautionary measure for an underground electrical vault fire.

Crews responded after 9:50 p.m. to the 800 block of Western Avenue.

When firefighters arrived, they saw a moderate amount of black smoke coming from a maintenance hole.

Crews said they used carbon dioxide to “snuff” out the underground fire in the electrical vault.

Seattle Fire Department tweeted just before 11 p.m. that the situation had been stabilized, but it could be a while before people were allowed back in the area. They also said Seattle City Light crews were at the scene.

Cox Media Group