Downtown blocks evacuated due to underground fire

A fire in underground utility vaults in downtown San Francisco prompted evacuations, a shelter-in-place order and power outages Thursday morning, city officials said.

Fire response and evacuations

The San Francisco Fire Department responded at about 6:04 a.m. to reports of smoke coming from several vaults at 150 California Street, an office tower, between Front and Davis streets, the department said on social media.

Four vaults experienced eruptions that were contained to the vaults, the department said . Two manhole covers were blown out, according to the San Francisco Chronicle .

A fire department official told the Chronicle that an “electrical malfunction” probably caused the fire. No injuries have been reported.

Officials issued a shelter-in-place order for the 100-300 blocks of California and Front streets as a precaution.

The immediate area was evacuated and cordoned off.

The department said it has a heavy presence at the scene and asked the public to avoid the area.

A unified command has been established with police, fire officials and Pacific Gas & Electric Co., the department said.