Electrical Fire
updated: Sep 14, 2012, 2:17 PM

By the Urban Hikers

Insulation around a couple of high voltage Southern California Edison wires burned for about two hours in a residential neighrborhood near Oak Park early Friday morning. At about one o'clock a.m. residents living near the intersection of Alamar Ave. and Junipero St. reportedly heard popping and cracking noises and went outside to investigate. They looked up to see flames on the Edison power pole and called 9-1- 1 to report the fire. SBFD responded with Engine 4 and stood by awaiting an Edison crew to make the area safe. When high power lines and/or electrical transformers are burning, the electricity must be cut before water or other agents are applied to the fire, due to the high risk of electroction. The insulation burned dropping burning globs of insulation until Edison finally arrived.

Edison arrived on scene about 3:00 am and SBFD was finally able to complete their work. At about 5:30 a.m. a transformer located near the corner of Alamar Ave. and De la Vina St. began sparking and SBFD crews responded. Firefighters attempted to locate an Edison representative, however Edison was no longer in the area. Apparently, problems in one section of the line will spark problems in other parts of the electrical line. Hopefully Edison responded to investigate and repair the sparking transformer. Luckly, there were no injuries or property damage.

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