Seattle fire crews are working a developing incident overnight after an underground vault fire broke out in the city. Firefighters were called to the scene and remained there working the fire, an event that has pulled a significant emergency response into the area and disrupted the surrounding blocks as crews try to bring the situation under control.
According to Seattle Fire, the fire is happening at 7th Avenue South and South Charles Street. The location places the incident in a busy part of the city, and the response there prompted authorities to take precautions with nearby structures rather than wait for the situation to escalate.
As a result of the fire and the emergency work underway, some people have been forced out of their buildings. Fire crews say some impacted buildings have been evacuated as a safety precaution due to the response. Moving people out was described as a protective step while crews deal with the underground fire.
The fire has also had a widespread effect on electricity in the area. About 2,500 people are without power as a result of the incident, leaving homes and businesses in the dark while crews work the scene. An underground vault fire can force utility crews to cut power to keep responders and the public safe.
The outage is not spread evenly across the city but focused on one neighborhood. The loss of power is mostly concentrated in the Chinatown International District, meaning residents and businesses in that community are bearing the brunt of the disruption caused by the vault fire.
As for when the lights might come back on, utility officials have offered an early estimate. Officials with Seattle City Light estimate power could be back sometime around 3 a.m. Until then, the affected part of the Chinatown International District is expected to remain without electricity as crews continue their work.