UPDATE: As of 5:43 p.m., BGE issued an update stating that they anticipate restoring services to the majority of the customers affected by the explosion in the overnight hours.
BGE is continuing restoration efforts to approximately 60 customers in the area of 300 N. Charles Street after an underground fire late Thursday evening. Currently, BGE anticipates restoring the vast majority of customers overnight. As we work toward full restoration, customers may experience additional temporary service interruptions during the restoration process so that new underground electric cables can be installed. BGE appreciates our customers’ patience during this work and the coordinated efforts with Baltimore City to ensure it is performed safely and as quickly as possible.
ORIGINAL STORY: An underground fire leads to manhole explosions in downtown Baltimore.
Reports started pouring in just before 10pm Thursday around the 300 block of N. Charles Street.
Fire crews discovered flames coming from one manhole cover and smoke surrounding several others.
Multiple covers were found displaced.
"Initial assessments showed the fire impacted underground electrical conduits along N. Charles Street," Baltimore City's Office of Emergency Management said in a statement."
Due to the electrical nature of the incident BGE had to shut off power in order for the fire to be put out.
As result homes and businesses within the 300 and 400 blocks of N. Charles Street were forced to evacuate.
No one was injured and there is no present threat to the public, fire officials say.
Power outages are currently affecting Centre to St. Paul Streets between Liberty and Fayette Streets.
Mercy Hospital's main facility was not impacted, although some of their buildings and garages were temporarily without power.
Both the Mitchell and Cummings Circuit Courthouses are closed Friday while crews complete their work.
MTA, meanwhile, has resumed light rail operations between North Avenue and Camden Yards.
Officials did report a brief early morning outage to the 911 emergency system, but there are no ongoing disruptions to the call handling process.
Traffic modifications can be expected throughout the morning on N. Charles Street between Baltimore and W. Mulberry Streets.
The cause remains under investigation.
Stay tuned to WMAR for more updates.
