Transformer explodes causing brief power outage

A utility pole located outside The Village apartments caught fire yesterday morning after a transformer on the top exploded. The incident caused The Village, College Park, Honors Community and The Woods to go without power for around four hours, according to Director of Residence Life & Housing Dan Bertsos.

Bertsos said that the pole was burned to the extent that it fell, but was held up by the wires on the top, preventing it from damaging any cars in the parking lot below.

“It didn’t fall on the cars, which was good luck,” Bertsos said.

A temporary transformer was placed on the pole to provide power to the locations the damaged one serviced. DP&L removed all of the debris and detached pieces from the area and are expected to bring a new pole to install sometime in the next week, Bertsos said.