Underground Vaults Erupt in San Francisco, Triggering Power Outages and Shelter-in-Place Orders

Four underground vaults caught fire early Thursday morning in San Francisco, prompting emergency responses and a shelter-in-place order for a portion of the city.

The San Francisco Fire Department received reports of smoke emanating from multiple underground vaults along California Street around 6 a.m. The fires led to widespread power outages and a directive for residents and workers in the affected area to shelter in place.

Crews were dispatched to the scene, where smoke was observed billowing into the streets. The shelter-in-place order initially covered areas around California Street and Front Street.

Further details regarding the cause of the fires and the extent of the power outages were not immediately available.