Explosion shuts down part of Main Street

TORRINGTON >> Part of Main Street in Torrington was closed early Wednesday morning after a manhole fire that briefly knocked out power to dozens of people.

No one was hurt in the incident, which was initially reported as a transformer explosion near the intersection of Main Street and Maiden Lane, a Litchfield County dispatcher confirmed.

The fire happened at about 3:30 a.m., Eversource spokeswoman Ana Alfaro said. She said the fire left 37 customers without power, though their service was restored by 4:45 a.m.

Alfaro said Eversource crews were still working in the area around 5:45 a.m. and it was possible they could be out there during other points in the day.

Main Street was closed between Mason and Water streets after the fire. NBC Connecticut was reporting the road had reopened shortly after daybreak but might be closed again for the repairs. Drivers were advised to take Prospect Street to avoid the scene.

The cause of the fire was not immediately available.

As of approximately 9:30 p.m., Eversource crews remained on site in front of the Warner Theatre. Traffic continued to flow through the area, as workers stopped and waved vehicles through.

The crew chief said that work was expected to continue into the early hours of Thursday morning — crews were currently engaged with repairing a high-voltage cable beneath the street.