UPDATE: Street reopens near Centennial Olympic Park after underground utility fire
Fire crews briefly swarmed the area near downtown Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park as they battled a blaze in an underground power vault, officials said.
Nassau Street has been reopened between Centennial Olympic Park and Ted Turner drives after it was shut down for nearly two hours, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Firefighters were called to the area around 4:30 p.m. after getting reports of thick black smoke pouring out of a manhole on Nassau Street, spokeswoman Alyssa Richardson said.
The response was labeled “a full assignment,” Richardson said. Businesses in the area were evacuated and Georgia Power specialists were brought to the scene.
The fire was quickly knocked down, according to Richardson, but one fire engine and another AFR truck remained alongside the Georgia Power workers until the scene was cleared. No one was injured.
An underground power vault is a room built below street level for access to public electric utilities, Richardson confirmed. They usually lie beneath closed and locked steel doors that are flush with the sidewalk or street.
About the Author
Henri Hollis is a reporter and restaurant critic for the Food & Dining team. Formerly a freelance writer and photographer with a focus on food and restaurants, he joined the AJC full-time in January 2021, first covering breaking news. He is a lifelong Atlantan and a graduate of Georgia Tech.
