CLEVELAND — A power outage impacted Cleveland's East Side and the Downtown area.
The power outage occurred after a fire broke out overnight at the Whale Building, situated along Interstate 90 and East 55th Street.
The building is a substation for Cleveland Public Power.
Firefighters were unable to enter the building due to burning power lines.
Cleveland Public Power had to shut off power in the building so crews could investigate.
Some Downtown traffic lights are out, according to News 5 journalists driving through the city.
CPP stated that it hopes to restore power on Tuesday; however, a specific timetable was not available.
"We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused for our businesses and residents. We ask for your patience as we make the emergency repairs to restore service as safely and quickly as possible," CPP said in a statement. "Due to the uncertainty of our timeline, we are asking our customers to be patient as we work through this situation. We encourage any of our vulnerable residents, including elderly, and anyone with medical conditions, to seek relief at one of the City’s cooling stations or with friends and family until power is restored."
Aaron Morman and his family sought relief at a rec center and a local restaurant after the power went out at their home on Bonna Avenue on the city's east side on Tuesday afternoon.
He said his power went out at 3:30 a.m. and the heat inside his home is "like hell."
His mother, Rosalind Armstrong, 73, said it was "like a furnace."
They were both concerned about her health. She said she suffers from several serious conditions.
"Hard to breathe in there [her house.] The basement is the coolest spot. Mostly, it’s just hot everywhere else," she said.
Downtown shutdowns
Downtown Cuyahoga County buildings were closed Tuesday due to power outages, according to a county spokesperson.
Tuesday evening, the City of Cleveland said City Hall and Public Auditorium will remain closed on Wednesday because the outage caused significant impacts to the buildings' HVAC systems.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and working with Cleveland Public Power on restoration efforts. We will provide updates regarding reopening as soon as the HVAC system is fully operational and safe conditions are restored," the city said in a statement.
Additionally, the city's Administrative Headquarters, the Jane Edna Hunter Building and the Virgil E. Brown Building will open at noon on Wednesday due to the outages.
The grand opening celebration for the new Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is postponed as well; a new date will be announced soon, the city said.
One of the buildings impacted by the power outage on Tuesday was the Justice Center, where courts will only have essential personnel today, according to a statement from spokesperson Darren Toms.
"Cleveland Public Power experienced a major problem at one of its substations, which has caused power outages in parts of Cleveland. Due to the power outage, Cleveland Thermal is unable to supply cold water for the Court’s air conditioning system. Due to the heat, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and Cleveland Municipal Court will operate with only essential personnel for the remainder of the day."
Summer camps at the Science Center are canceled for the day due to the outage. They will also be closed and hope to reopen on Wednesday.
The duration of the power outage is unknown.
