Aug. 9-- At least 12 firefighters were injured while battling an underground fire in West Chester on Wednesday afternoon.

ABC Philadelphia reports that a call of smoke came in shortly before 4 p.m. at the former courthouse building along the 200 block of West Gay Street in the small Pennsylvania city of less than 19,000 in Chester County. West Chester is about 35 miles west of Philadelphia.

Five firefighters were taken to area hospitals with undisclosed injuries, while seven others were treated at the scene.

PECO Energy Company said the smoke was coming from a manhole cover. The company shut off power to 79 customers due to the underground fire, the cause of which was under investigation.

ABC Philadelphia reporter Annie McCormick tweeted at 5:23 p.m. that "Residents & businesses in the 100 & 200 Block of W Gay St told to evacuate. Crews will go door to door to check CO2 levels."