Mystery 'Explosions' Rock Oldham, Over 100 Homes Without Power
A fire at an electrical substation in Royton, Oldham, left over 100 homes without power on Saturday evening. Residents reported explosions as firefighters and police responded to the blaze, which Electricity North West attributed to an incident on a high voltage cable.
More than 100 homes in Oldham were plunged into darkness following a significant fire at an electrical substation on Harewood Drive in Royton. Residents in the area reported hearing distinct 'loud bangs' and 'explosions' as the blaze erupted, with social media footage capturing bright orange flames and thick smoke billowing from the substation.
Emergency services were swiftly dispatched to the scene on Saturday, September 5, around 5:10pm. Two fire engines from Oldham and Chadderton fire stations attended, with firefighters employing dry powder extinguishers and a thermal imaging camera to bring the fire under control. Police personnel were also present to manage the incident. Fortunately, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that no one sustained any injuries.
The immediate aftermath saw scores of locals on the neighbouring Thorp estate experiencing power cuts, with lights failing and numerous house alarms activating simultaneously. Electricity North West (ENW) reported that a total of 147 properties remained without power at the time of reporting. ENW attributed the outage to "an unexpected incident on the high voltage cable that provides electricity to your home or business," reassuring affected customers of their commitment to safely and quickly restore power.
A spokesperson for GMFRS detailed their response, stating that crews arrived quickly to extinguish the fire. Firefighters worked in close collaboration with Electricity North West to ensure the area was made safe, departing the scene after approximately one hour.