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Fault in the Vault

Monday, 18 November 2013 at 15:53

Electrical Safety Authority called in to investigate Market Square fire, while emergency power brought in for City Hall

An investigation is underway into this morning's fire in a vault underneath Woodstock's Market Square.

The blaze broke out in hydro equipment at around 2:30 this morning, but was quickly brought under control by Woodstock Fire.

As Woodstock Hydro's Operations Manager Jay Heaman says they're trying to get to the bottom of what happened.  "This was an unsettling fault.  We called in the Electric Safety Authority right away and started an investigation.  We're going to continue to work with them and our own staff until we get to the root cause of the problem."

Power is out to City Hall, the Market Theatre, and businesses in the same block.

There was some smoke in the Theatre building that's being aired out and deodorized.

Heaman says a generator has been brought in to get City Hall powered back up tonight.  "Thomas Electric has brought in a mobile generator.  We're going to get that building up this evening.  Our crews are going to continue working on the restoration of the transformer and equipment, but we're not going to have them (City Hall) connected to our grid by tonight."  City Hall is expected to re-open on Tuesday morning.

UPDATE: 3:30PM - Emergency power has been restored to Dairy Capital Cheese Shop.  They will be back open Tuesday, as will City Hall.

Damage for now is estimated at $50,000, but Heaman says that number could rise as they begin testing the transformers to see if they're damaged beyond repair in the vault.

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