Smoldering wires close Kirkwood

The Bloomington Fire Department blocked off Kirkwood Avenue between Grant and Dunn Streets late Wednesday afternoon after receiving a call about smoke coming from power lines in a protective metal sleeve behind Cafe Pizzaria, 405 E. Kirkwood Ave.\nThe smoke came from an electrical box connected to the restaurant, said Bloomington Fire Chief Jeff Barlow. \nBFD called the electrical company, Cinergy, to address the problem. A representative from Cinergy cut most of the power to Cafe Pizzaria. The cover of the electrical box was removed to reveal smoldering wires at what appeared to be the main power source for the restaurant.\nFire trucks and ambulances closed the block to protect residents from about 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. \nThe department used its relatively new thermal imaging camera to check the building for heat. The TICs detect heat and create a black and white picture to allow the fire department to get an overall picture of the problem and minimize risk to firefighters. \nWhile the incident created a minor stir, a BFD representative said the problem could have been much worse if it had not been found earlier.