CHICAGO (STMW) – Power was shut off to part of the CTA Blue Line Sunday morning as fire personnel investigate reports of smoke in a subway in the River West neighborhood.

Blue Line trains were experiencing delays because of fire department activity near the station at Grand and Milwaukee about 10 a.m., according to a CTA rider alert.

Initially, there was a report of smoke in a Blue Line train at 502 N. Milwaukee Ave., according to Fire Media Affairs. Power on the Blue Line was shut off in both directions, between the Clark/Lake station and the Division station, according to Fire Media.

As a result, according to the CTA, service on the Blue Line was suspended between the Damen station on the Near Northwest Side and the UIC/Halsted station on the Near West Side.

The CTA was advising customers to use the No. 56 Milwaukee bus as an alternate.

Shuttle buses were available to provide connecting service through the affected area.

An EMS Plan I and still-and-box alarm was called. At least five ambulances were sent to the scene. Street traffic was being rerouted in the area, as well, to accommodate emergency vehicles.

The EMS plan was secured at 10:30 a.m.

According to unconfirmed dispatch reports, there was a small brake fire on a train that was stalled in the subway tunnel in that area.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)