18 August 2006
8.30am - Across the service area
Torrential rain and heavy storms meant Avon Fire & Rescue
Service had a very busy night.
The service handled a high volume of calls, dealing with 42
seperate incidents in a four hour period. Many of these were false
alarms caused by the poor weather. We also attended a number of
flooding incidents, both at commercial properties and private
residences.
In Copse Close, on the Oldmixon, Weston-super-Mare, an electricty
substation was struck by lightning, which caused it to catch fire.
When crews arrived, the electricity was fizzing, so they evacuated
four neighbouring properties. The substation then exploded, so
working with the police, up to about 20 people were evactuated.
Firefighters put the fire out, after the electricity board isolated
the supply. It is believed some properties were left without
electricity for a period.