Major power outage on West Side

Hazmat crews were called to the vault, located at Ogden and Damen at approximately 9:30 a.m. Friday. No injuries had been reported.

About 700 customers within the boundaries of Madison, Harrison, Laughlin and Bell were without power until approximately 11 a.m. That area included high-rises and two hospital buildings, one of which was Stroger Hospital, where officials said they lost power for about 10 seconds, then switched to a generator.

Officials said it appears a contract worker using a low torch on a project touched off some sort of fire in an underground vault.

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