Police closed one lane of Feeding Hills Road in Southwick Wednesday after a utility pole transformer across from Comark blew up causing residents to lose power and the library to close early. Southwick Fire Chief Richard Anderson said the explosion was loud and high. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Western Massachusetts Electric Company was on the scene of an outage along Feeding Hills Road yesterday afternoon.
A transformer located across from Comark at 104 Feeding Hills Road blew up around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, causing residents to lose power and the library to close early.
Southwick Fire Chief Richard Anderson said the explosion was loud and high.
“The transformer blew itself into the woods,” he said. “Wires came down between poles on the side of the road and it was arcing and sparking.”
Firefighters cleared the area to keep people away from the wires while they worked to secure the area with WMECO.
Anderson said the explosion was so bright “it was like the sun came out for a few minutes.”
One home on Gagnon Terrace was affected beyond a simple power loss when the transformer explosion caused the home’s electrical panel to shutdown.
“It was fried,” said Anderson. “They will not be able to stay there and the electrical inspector will have to go in.”
Anderson also said numerous alarm systems sounded because of the rise and fall in voltage.
