Firefighters were called to reports of a fire and explosion on Millman Place in Bloomsbury.
It is believed that an electrical intake box under the pavement caught fire and exploded. The debris caught nearby rubbish alight.
One woman was assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.
Station Officer Duncan Rees, who was at the scene, said: “We believe the explosion was caused a fault in an underground electrical intake box. The fire ball forced a hot pavement slab and debris onto nearby rubbish, causing it to catch alight. The explosion was heard by a number of people and we received ten 999 calls. Fortunately, no members of public were seriously hurt.”
The Brigade was called at 2345 and the fire was under control by 0109. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Euston, Soho and Islington fire stations attended the scene.