Underground fire, high carbon monoxide levels prompt evacuations in Society Hill section of Philadelphia
About 20 properties in Philadelphia's Society Hill neighborhood were evacuated early Friday morning after firefighters detected carbon monoxide, officials said.
Firefighters were dispatched to the 500 block of Delancey Street around 5 a.m. for a report of fumes and then detected the dangerous gas, a spokesperson for the department said.
SEPTA buses were called to the scene to keep residents warm but were not ultimately needed, as many eventually took shelter in neighbors' homes for a brief time.
Further gas readings showed the carbon monoxide was dissipating and residents were allowed back into their homes around 6:45 a.m.
A spokesperson for Philadelphia Gas Works said the incident stemmed from a "PECO burnout."
PECO said crews arrived at the scene around 7:30 a.m. and responded to an underground fire that is now out. Power was cut to the area and crews are still working but are expected to secure the scene.
PECO was not aware why the CO readings were high.
