Fire causes blackouts across city

Business and homes along Broad Street lost power supplies

Parts of Birmingham city centre were plunged into darkness when a fire broke out in an electricity sub station.

The blaze started in the building on Sheepcote Street in Ladywood at 0330 GMT on Saturday.

Power was lost to a large area of the city centre as supplies were cut to allow firefighters to tackle the blaze.

In all 8,500 businesses and homes lost power. Supplies were gradually restored to all but 13 properties just after 1000 GMT.

Street lights and traffic signals were knocked out in the city centre along Broad Street, Brindley Place and Smallbrook Queensway areas.

Arcing could be cause

Alan Pellowe, area commander for West Midlands Fire Service, said the fire is believed to have started because insulation came away from cabling carrying 11,000 volts causing electricity to arc between cables in the sub station.

"Electricity supplies had to be isolated at the sub station so we could tackle the fire safely," he said.

About 30 firefighters were involved in tackling the fire which was put out by 0830 GMT.

Most of the properties affected, around 7,400, were reconnected gradually just after 0900 GMT.

The sub station is a three storey building with two floors below ground, said Mr Pellowe.

"It's believed to have been caused by a breakdown in insulation so the cabling has become exposed causing arcing to take place," he said.

"Supplies had to be isolated to allow firefighters to tackle the fire safely."

Medical patients

He added that people who depended on electricity for medical treatment, like those on kidney dialysis at home, had been contacted by local hospitals so arrangement could be made to come into hospital for treatment if necessary.

A spokeswoman for electricity supply company Central Networks said: "Damage to the sub station was not a serious as we first thought.

"Engineers were on site at the sub station so immediately fire crews told us it was safe they went in to begin repairs.

"Engineers will be working hard to restore supplies to the remaining customers as soon as possible."

In July, supplies were cut to 27,000 homes in the city after vandals started a fire in a sub station in Saltley.

Homes and businesses in Erdington, Ward End, Bordesley Green, Aston and Hodge Hill were affected.