Crews investigate explosions, fire in manhole near Pfister Hotel



MILWAUKEE (WITI) — Authorities continue to investigate the cause of two explosions and a fire inside a manhole near the Pfister Hotel that occurred Sunday evening, February 10th.

Crews responded to the scene around 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening for reports of smoke coming through a manhole.

Upon arrival, officials discovered the smoke was the result of an explosion in an underground electrical cable, and quickly called for backup.

Shortly after support arrived on the scene a second explosion and fire blew off an manhole cover and obliterated the concrete about a half block away.

During the secondary explosion, a woman was knocked to the ground by the blast, but she refused treatment at a hospital.

We Energies officials reported 550 power outages in the area Sunday evening, including street lights and residences.

We Energies crews worked through the night to restore power to customers, and are still on the scene investigating the cause of the explosion. Cathy Schulze with We Energies says the explosions have been traced to fault in an underground electrical cable.

FOX6 News learned some people were evacuated from the Mason Street Grill for about an hour Sunday evening as crews worked to secure the scene.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this story.