A fire set off by an underground transformer two blocks east of the White House forced the evacuation of two of Washington's great hotels Saturday evening.

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Dozens of firefighters fought the blaze and the fire was extinguished around 9 p.m., with no injuries to firefighters or the residents and tourists in the neighborhood, according to Pete Piringer the spokesperson for DC Fire/EMS. Power was restored about 10 p.m.

Flames from the explosion were shooting 30 feet into the darkening sky firefighters converged on the scene at 14th and F Streets, NW. Black smoke rose even higher.

The fire quickly spread towards the W Hotel and both the W and the Willard Hotel were evacuated. Manhole in the area were also emitting the dark smoke.

Firefighters began hosing down buildings as people inside were being evacuated. The Secret Service was there, helping with the evacuations.

Piringer said neither hotel was damaged.