Notre Dame OK amid power outage on graduation eve
AEP employees work assesing the damage caused by a fire in underground vault near the intersection of Washington and Lafayette Street in South Bend on Friday May 16, 2014. An underground electrical fire left hundreds of homes and businesses in downtown South Bend without power Friday as thousands of people are in town for the University of Notre Dame's weekend commencement ceremonies. (AP Photo/South Bend Tribune, Santiago Flores)
SOUTH BEND, Ind. >> An underground electrical fire has left hundreds of homes and businesses without power in South Bend as thousands of people come to town for the University of Notre Dame’s weekend commencement.
The college campus is about 2 miles north of downtown South Bend and wasn’t affected, but university officials urged students on Friday to tell their families and other guests to check in with hotels and restaurants to ensure they’re open.
Indiana Michigan Power says it cut power in downtown South Bend as a precaution after a fire late Thursday seriously damaged power circuits in underground vaults that house part of the city’s electrical grid.
Two generators are being brought in to help power several businesses, including the DoubleTree hotel. Power isn’t expected to be restored until Sunday evening.
