When firefighters arrived, they found smoke coming from an underground electrical vault near the South Main Street and East Fifth Street intersection, said Dayton Fire Department Assistant Chief Brad French.
Crews requested AES Ohio to responded and utility workers shut down power to the surrounding area.
The Reibold Building was evacuated and multiple streets in the area were closed as a precaution, French said.
The fire continued inside the underground vault after the power was shutdown. Firefighters attempted to extinguish it using water and then with dry chemical extinguishers but were unsuccessful.
After consulting with environmental officials and senior fire department officials at the scene, the decision was made to apply PFAS-free foam to the burning area, French said. The foam quickly contained the fire.
No injuries were reported.
Dayton Fire Department crews were at the scene for approximately 3½ hours before they turned it over to AES Ohio.
AES Ohio called in an environmental remediation contractor to remove the foam and any other contaminants from the underground vault.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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