LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An apparent electrical fire inside a sewer downtown near Second and Market caused serious traffic backups during the morning commute Tuesday.
The fire broke out in an underground electrical box shortly after 7:30.
The street was blocked for several hours while crews worked to put out the fire, which spewed thick smoke from sewer grates on Market, Main and Liberty.
Capt. Sal Melendez says the explosion happened at 7:40 a.m. near First and Main. Melendez said LG&E cut power to the area quickly and the fire was burning out on its own.
"I just want to make sure that everyone knows this is not a sewer explosion," Melendez said. "That's what everybody is thinking happened. It is not a sewer explosion, it is an electrical issue."
We're told several nearby businesses were evacuated and that some would be closed for the rest of the day because the smoke can be toxic.
LG&E spokeswoman Chris Whelan says the company is looking into what caused the fire.
"It's a malfunction," Whelan said. "And until we get in there, we would just be speculating."
LG&E was working to restore power in phases.
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