The entire intersection of Chestnut and 8th street was shut down shortly after 5 p.m. this afternoon as responders investigated an underground fire that blew a manhole cover onto the street.
Fire trucks and red caution tape blocked off the street as investigators gathered around the open manhole which was still coughing up smoke as the sun set.
John Pless, a spokesman for EPB, said that the blaze was caused by a faulty wire that overheated.
As the heat built up around the heavy-gauge wire, it went the only direction it could, up, and managed to force the heavy manhole cover out of place.
A dry chemical fire extinguisher was used to extinguish the fire.