Name: Smoke Rising From Underground Maintenance Hole Explosion video
Uploaded: 2026-07-11T17:45:38.000Z
Description: Firefighters responded to a manhole explosion at Vine St and W 5th St in Cincinnati, where smoking and visible flames were reported. The area was closed to traffic as a precaution, and a heavy rescue team was recommended.

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Firefighters responded to a manhole explosion at Vine St and W 5th St in Cincinnati, where smoking and visible flames were reported. The area was closed to traffic as a precaution, and a heavy rescue team was recommended.

Smoke Rising From Underground Maintenance Hole Explosion

Somebody to block 6th and Vine, westbound 6th and Vine.

 And it doesn't appear that there's a safety hazard.

Somebody to block 6th and Vine, westbound 6th and Vine. And it doesn't appear that there's a safety hazard. Duke believes it's an electrical issue. Unit that can stay at 6th and Vine, ID.

Duke Energy suspects an electrical issue is causing the maintenance hole incidents.

Guys, we're going to start opening traffic back up too.

 So, Truck 3, if you want to open 6th Street, you can do that.

Guys, we're going to start opening traffic back up too. So, Truck 3, if you want to open 6th Street, you can do that. Alright, we're opening up 6th Street.

Traffic on 6th Street is being reopened as the situation stabilizes.

Truck 3. Truck 3, we're walking that way now. We'll check it out. Thanks, Tom. Let us know.

 I think we should be getting close to getting out of here.

 You guys want to double check that hotel?

 Caller states that possibly another manhole popped, area of 6th and Walnut, near the CAC building.

Command to Rescue 14. Yeah, Chief. I think we should be getting close to getting out of here. You guys want to double check that hotel? Dispatch to Command. Looks like we're received. We just received another call. Caller states that possibly another manhole popped, area of 6th and Walnut, near the CAC building. That's clear. We'll go check that way. That's clear. Dispatch back to.

Emergency crews are investigating reports of another manhole incident near 6th St and Walnut St.

Dispatch to command, we're back on Bravo 2.

 Are you able to get that building secured good?

 This weather's not cooperating, but they'll take a look here pretty soon.

 Yeah, you'll see the two guys walking out.

 Dispatch to command, is there anything else that dispatch can do?

Dispatch to command, we're back on Bravo 2. That's clear. Are you able to get that building secured good? Yeah, we'll tighten it up. That's clear, thanks. Duke just got here. This weather's not cooperating, but they'll take a look here pretty soon. Okay. We'll be out under the overhang, 11-3. Yeah, you'll see the two guys walking out. Dispatch to command, is there anything else that dispatch can do? I can get you.

Duke Energy has arrived on scene to assess the situation despite challenging weather conditions.

And, do we need any other posts? 1233 is available if needed.

 Hold on for now. Let me see what we got. I do need some more tape up here, though.

 71, I've got some. I'm working on it now.

And, do we need any other posts? 1233 is available if needed. Hold on for now. Let me see what we got. I do need some more tape up here, though. All right, I'll walk them up. Okay, 6116 is going to walk them up. 71, I've got some. I'm working on it now. Copy that. Metro's been advised.

 We have a drone overhead, and our supervisor's got access to the cameras.

 Is there a camera available at 6th and Vine?

 You can try to replay the video, see if we can see anything suspicious happen.

6100, is real-time working today? We have a drone overhead, and our supervisor's got access to the cameras. Real-time's not in. I don't believe I did try earlier. Okay. Is there a camera available at 6th and Vine? Where this happened at? You can try to replay the video, see if we can see anything suspicious happen.

A drone is being used to monitor the area, and footage is being reviewed for any suspicious activity.

 Smoke's still coming out of the manhole.

 Right now, we're just checking surrounding buildings, but so far, everything seems okay.

 SO2, you can add me to 6th Street on scene.

An underground manhole explosion. Smoke's still coming out of the manhole. We're going to need Duke on a priority. Right now, we're just checking surrounding buildings, but so far, everything seems okay. Dispatch, clear. SO2, you can add me to 6th Street on scene. Clear.

Emergency crews are checking nearby buildings, which currently appear unaffected.

You park your vehicles and be aware where you are walking.

 Alright, once we get these blocked off, I want everybody to walk towards Vine and maybe like a, just to get away from the manhole covers.

 Copy, once you get the post blocked off, everybody walk towards Vine, stay away from the manhole covers.

You park your vehicles and be aware where you are walking. Alright, once we get these blocked off, I want everybody to walk towards Vine and maybe like a, just to get away from the manhole covers. Copy, once you get the post blocked off, everybody walk towards Vine, stay away from the manhole covers.

 I'm going to start taping off the area from Destiny Cafe at Vine Street, right by Chipotle, so they can't keep walking down further.

61-16. Go ahead. I'm going to start taping off the area from Destiny Cafe at Vine Street, right by Chipotle, so they can't keep walking down further. Copy that.

Emergency crews are taping off the area to keep pedestrians away from the manhole covers.

 We had Vine Street blocked off at 5th and Vine.

 We need pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic blocked off.

 Let's block it off from Main, I'm sorry, Walnut and 6th Street as well.

 We need no vehicle or pedestrian traffic, 6th and Walnut.

 And then no vehicle or pedestrian traffic, 5th and Vine.

61 C from 35 and Vine, 5th and Vine. Copy, 35, 5th and Vine. And on 35. Copy. We had Vine Street blocked off at 5th and Vine. We need pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic blocked off. Let's block it off from Main, I'm sorry, Walnut and 6th Street as well. Copy. We need no vehicle or pedestrian traffic, 6th and Walnut. And then no vehicle or pedestrian traffic, 5th and Vine.

Hey, Matt, I just don't know that we need the engine in the medic park that close to it, okay?

 They're probably about 50 feet away from the manhole cover.

Hey, Matt, I just don't know that we need the engine in the medic park that close to it, okay? Let's move those units. That's clear. They're probably about 50 feet away from the manhole cover.

Emergency units are repositioning to maintain a safe distance from the manhole. Traffic is restricted further.

 Okay, the fire department has confirmed that this manhole did blow up for some reason.

 We're going to shut down pedestrian traffic at this point, not let them come down the street.

 So, no vehicle or traffic and no pedestrian traffic.

 Post needs me to come assist with the...

6271. Go ahead. Okay, the fire department has confirmed that this manhole did blow up for some reason. We don't know why. We're going to shut down pedestrian traffic at this point, not let them come down the street. So, no vehicle or traffic and no pedestrian traffic. I copy. The confirmed manhole cover blew up. No vehicle or pedestrian traffic. No vehicle or pedestrian traffic. It's going to be... Post needs me to come assist with the...

Cover reportedly got its lifting feet in the air. It's sitting partially covering the hole right now.

Cover reportedly got its lifting feet in the air. It's sitting partially covering the hole right now. Yes, that's clear.

Police confirm the manhole cover did blow off, and the reason is unknown. Both vehicle and pedestrian traffic are now restricted in the area.

Cars 6 and District 1. Go for District 1. Just let me know if you need me to escalate this to Duke or anything. Yeah, we will need Duke's assistance.

 Dispatch to command, we are contacting Duke to respond. That's clear. Hey, Medic 17 and Engine 3, let's back your units out of there and give this some space.

Cars 6 and District 1. Go for District 1. Just let me know if you need me to escalate this to Duke or anything. Yeah, we will need Duke's assistance. Dispatch to command, we are contacting Duke to respond. That's clear. Hey, Medic 17 and Engine 3, let's back your units out of there and give this some space. Engine 3, we got...

 Where'd you have the manhole that exploded?

 It's right underneath the light on College Street, the flashing yellow light.

We're on B Boy 2. District 1 to Medic 17. Brian, where are you guys? Where'd you have the manhole that exploded? It's right underneath the light on College Street, the flashing yellow light.

Firefighters have requested Duke Energy to assist on the scene.

We're just going to go ahead and shut it down at 6th and Walnut for now and send traffic southbound on Walnut.

 If you could let Metro know, and then we'll let you know as soon as we know further.

 5 at 6th and Walnut. I'm going to block all traffic westbound.

 216, I'll be en route also. Let me know when you need me.

We're just going to go ahead and shut it down at 6th and Walnut for now and send traffic southbound on Walnut. If you could let Metro know, and then we'll let you know as soon as we know further. Can someone take Vine Street? You need a post at 6th and Vine? 5 at 6th and Walnut. I'm going to block all traffic westbound. I copy. 216, I'll be en route also. Let me know when you need me. Okay. You need 6th and Vine? I think so. Okay.

District 1, I'm on scene. I'll have Vine Street command.

 That's clear. District 1 on scene, taking command.

 District 1, fire ground is going to be B-Boy 2 for this.

 That's clear. Medic 17, switch to B-Boy 2, please.

 Truck 3, you can add us on the Bravo front, please.

District 1, I'm on scene. I'll have Vine Street command. That's clear. District 1 on scene, taking command. District 1, fire ground is going to be B-Boy 2 for this. That's clear. Medic 17, switch to B-Boy 2, please. Truck 3, you can add us on the Bravo front, please. That's clear.

The area around the smoking manhole is being closed off to traffic for safety.

We just drove through. We're going to circle back.

 Okay, we're getting multiple calls, and the fire department is confirming.

 Something underground blew the sewer hole off, and there's flame seen.

 Can you check with the fire tower if they're responding to see if anybody's posted?

We just drove through. We're going to circle back. Okay, we're getting multiple calls, and the fire department is confirming. There's manholes smoking, apparently. Something underground blew the sewer hole off, and there's flame seen. So, use caution. We're getting 28 East 6. Can you check with the fire tower if they're responding to see if anybody's posted? Yeah. Advise us where they want us. They are en route, sir. Okay.

Firefighters confirm there are maintenance holes smoking with visible flames.

Medic 17, it's recommending a still compliment.

 I would recommend maybe Duke and Police just to block off this area, just in case another one pops off.

Medic 17, it's recommending a still compliment. Do we need a full compliment? That's a negative. I would recommend maybe Duke and Police just to block off this area, just in case another one pops off. That's clear. Duke and Police needed. Maybe recommend a heavy rescue. That's clear.

Firefighters suggest police block off the area as a precaution and recommend a heavy rescue team.

Medic 17, we have a manhole that exploded.

 We're on Vine Street and West 5th in front of Newberry's.

 Medic 17, it's 28 East 6th, a good location.

 Medic 17, we're getting calls saying it's at 28 East 6th Street.

Medic 17, we have a manhole that exploded. It is currently just smoking right now. We're on Vine Street and West 5th in front of Newberry's. We're on scene. Medic 17, that's clear. We're getting calls on it now. Medic 17, it's 28 East 6th, a good location. Medic 17, can you repeat that? Medic 17, we're getting calls saying it's at 28 East 6th Street. Is that a...

Firefighters are responding to a report of a manhole explosion. The manhole is reported to be smoking.

A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at Vine St & W 5th St.

Smoke Rising From Underground Maintenance Hole Explosion

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