Update: Power Restored in Old Town Alexandria

Update: 6:30 p.m. Power has been restored to the eight businesses.

Update 3:04 p.m. A Dominion Virginia Power spokeswoman says power should be restored to the affected businesses this evening between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

A fire that occurred near the intersection of King and South Royal streets in Old Town early Thursday morning has damaged Dominion Virginia Power’s equipment and underground cables.

Dominion Power had to shut off electricity for customers in the 300, 400 and 500 blocks of King Street and the 100 block of Pitt Street. A total of eight customers are without power and all are businesses, including the , and the Alexandria Courthouse.

is not affected and is open today.

Chief Fire Marshal Robert Rodriguez said it was an accidental fire that started in some trash that was stored near an electrical transformer.

"It had been a smoldering fire for some time before it erupted into open flame," he said.

The fire started at a gazebo located on private property. The gazebo was situated over a grate housing some Dominion Power equipment.

"When that gazebo caught fire, the fire went to the equipment including an underground switch, causing internal damage to the equipment," according to Dominion spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson.

There is no definitive time at this point for power to be restored and Anderson said the power company would be working all day on the issue.

The power company is working closely with the city's Fire Department.