Traffic on Sheridan Road was blocked off and Northwestern University’s Technological Institute was evacuated for much of this afternoon after an electrical transformer was seen arcing in the alley just south of the building.
Evanston Fire Division Chief Dwight Hohl says there have been no reports of injuries from the incident.
He says there’s also been no loss of power to the building. The incident was first reported about 1 p.m.
Update: 2:00 p.m.: Hohl says ComEd crews have now arrived on the scene and they’re evaluating how to make repairs to the transformer which is located in an underground vault in the alley..At this hour traffic on Sheridan is still being detoured from Foster Street to Garnett Place.
Update 2:50 p.m.: Northwestern University offficials say the Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center at 2133 Sheridan Road, and the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science at 2137 Tech Drive have also been evacuated.
Update 5:00 p.m.: Northwestern officials say the emergency involving the electrical vault is being resolved. It is now safe to return to the three buildings that were evacuated, with the exception of the south moat of the Technological Institute, which remains off limits.
Commonwealth Edison workers remain on the scene working on the issue. An Evanston Fire Department truck will also remain to monitor the scene.