Electricity fire spectacle leaves villagers without power

On Friday 4th June, at about 9.30am, the junction box (?) on the top of the ivy covered telegraph pole at the junction of Kitts Close and Forest Road ignited (see location on Google Street View)

Eyewitnesses reported seeing sparks and hearing crackling, which sounded like a mini-fireworks display.

The first I knew about it was when my lights started flickering and my computer, and other electrical equipment, started crackling to themselves. Silicon Bullet reported that their UPS power supply kept switching on and off as the Village's voltage started fluctuating.

The fire brigade arrived first and cordoned off a part of Forest Road (traffic could still pass via the off-shoot road that connects to Salcey Avenue), however, as the fire was electrical, they were unable to put it out and were only able to maintain a guard to ensure it didn't spread to nearby hedges and houses. They were joined by a very friendly police officer who chatted to the fairly large crowd (for Hartwell!) who had come out in the sunshine to watch the spectacle!

As the fire worked its way down the pole, the electricity board finally arrived. It turns out that the pole and junction box (?) was a relic from when the cables were moved under ground and was an unneeded spur from the main circuit.

The electricity board isolated power to the whole circuit, leaving half the village at the Salcey Forest end of School Lane without power, allowing the fire crews to be able to make the area safe.

Work is underway to repair the damaged underground cable and to cap the useless spur - it is estimated that it should take 2-3 hours (so power should be back on around 2pm). The telegraph pole will be permanently removed.

You can see all the photos I took at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=441272&id=283403220485. If you have any photos, or want to tell your account of what happened, then email phil@hartwellvillage.com.