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Hundreds lose power in Elgin

An Elgin Fire Department battalion chief was involved in a crash while responding to an electrical fire in downtown Elgin Monday afternoon that caused widespread power outages.

Officials said Batallion Chief Tim Michaels was on his way to the underground electrical fire at the intersection of West Chicago and North State streets around 3:30 p.m. when the minor, two-vehicle accident occurred.

No one was injured in the crash, said Elgin spokeswoman Sue Olafson.

Elgin officials said smoke was rising through sewers at the intersection.

A ComEd spokesman said the smoke was caused by an underground “cable failure” and that about 420 customers lost power from 3:15 p.m. until 4:08 p.m.