A fire at a traffic substation in Nesttun, Norway, on Monday afternoon led to evacuations, power outages affecting hundreds of customers, and traffic disruptions. Emergency services responded to the scene on Hardangervegen near Grimevatnet after receiving the first reports at 4:46 PM local time. The incident prompted authorities to advise residents in the area to keep their windows closed due to heavy smoke.
The blaze, while not involving open flames upon the arrival of firefighters, caused significant concern for nearby residents. According to Bjarte Rebnord, the operations leader for the police, two addresses were evacuated as a precaution, and residents at two additional properties were instructed to close their windows. The priority was to manage the smoke and ensure public safety.
The power outage initially impacted approximately 254 households, according to BKK, the local power company. BKK dispatched crews to secure the area and began working to restore power. As of 10:00 PM local time, the number of affected households had been reduced to 71, with BKK utilizing a temporary generator to expedite the restoration process.
“We are working as quickly as possible to acquire the power back to everyone,” stated Henrik Wiedswang Horjen, a communications advisor for BKK, in a statement to local media. “There is still some work to be done connecting and splicing low-voltage cables. We are working towards getting all customers back online overnight.”
Hardangervegen was temporarily closed in both directions as a result of the fire, causing traffic congestion in the area. Police initiated manual traffic control after approximately 45 minutes, and the road was fully reopened shortly before 6:00 PM.
Power Restoration Efforts Underway
BKK has deployed six teams to address the damage and restore power to the remaining affected customers. The company is focused on repairing the low-voltage cabling, a complex process that requires careful attention to detail. The initial power outage was registered at 4:53 PM, according to BKK’s power map. The fire was extinguished by 5:51 PM, according to Shahrooz Lahooti, a watch leader with the fire department.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Rebnord stated that it is currently too early to determine what sparked the incident. Police concluded their on-site investigation at 6:33 PM.
Impact on Residents and Traffic
The incident caused significant disruption for residents in the Nesttun area, both due to the power outage and the need to keep windows closed due to the smoke. The temporary road closure added to the inconvenience, causing delays for commuters. The quick response from emergency services and BKK helped to mitigate the impact of the fire.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and are working to ensure the safety and well-being of residents. BKK is committed to restoring full power to all affected customers as quickly and safely as possible. The company anticipates that all power will be restored overnight.
As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any concerns to the authorities. The focus now shifts to the completion of repairs and the full restoration of services to the community.
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