Power outage affects restaurants, businesses

A transformer burst into flames Thursday causing power outages across Bloomington.

There were numerous electrical explosions in the transformer located by Clemens Mobile Storage on South Rogers Street. It set fire to the transformer and telephone pole.

“Duke Energy worked tirelessly to restore power,” Bloomington Fire Department Sgt. Brandon Hudson said.

Several locations experienced power outages as a result including Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Woodburn Hall.

The Bloomington Police Department arrived at the scene blocking traffic at the Clemens
Mobile Storage south entrance, as well as the fire department blocking the north entrance, while Duke Energy employees worked to cut power off to the transformer and electrical lines, Hudson said.

Once the power was shut off, Duke Energy employees were lifted in a bucket truck to extinguish the fire with a dry chemical agent.

All units were cleared from the scene by 2 p.m. Thursday.

Dennis Barbosa