Lights back on after underground fire

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - The lights  for some are finally coming back online after many were in the dark for most of the day following an electrical fire in a underground transformer vault in downtown New Haven Thursday morning. 

Power was knocked out in the area and caused trouble for many New Haven residents and businesses right from the start. "Over-slept, missed my alarm, nasty day at work, late all day, that's about it," said frustrated New Haven resident Jay Reilly. "I got back, power is still out, no food, and warm beer!"

Smoke was coming up from the street and traveled through the conduits and underground tunnels in the area of College Street and Crown Streets. No flames were visible because the fire was totally underground.

At least 700 people were without power, and businesses were forced to shut down. In many cases, restaurants had to ditch the food. "All my fridges are not working," said Sunny Patel a local convenience store clerk. "Maybe the ice cream will melt. We're losing a lot of money on ice cream."

It ended up being two transformers underground that sparked the fire. United Illuminating crews had been working on the vault. Roads were closed in the area around the fire.

Some smoke was filtering into the basement of the Shubert, which is preparing to host the Disney musical Beauty and the Beast this weekend.

"Light smoke conditions in the basement area," Chief Grant said. "None to the proper area of the theater itself."

UI says they are bringing in generators for 'The Taft' and 'Shubert' buildings so they can get power. the Rest of UI's customers will be switched to another circut.

"No lights in the stairwell so I basically used my cell phone to light it up a little bit," said Rahul Deb of New Haven. "It wasn't terrible."

The fire went to two alarms. No one was injured.