A fire at a PSE&G substation Sunday left nearly 2,000 customers without electric power in New Jersey for several hours Sunday and forced the evacuation of several homes.
The fire burned for nearly eight hours before firefighters doused the smouldering transformer.
The power outage struck Bergen County after an equipment failure on a transmission line sparked the two-alarm blaze at the substation in Waldwick just before 11:30 a.m., according to the utility company. No injuries were reported.
The towns affected included Hillsdale, Westwood and Woodcliff Lake. Service was restored for all customers at about 2 p.m., officials said.
Witnesses on social media said a loud explosion preceded the fire. Images from the scene showed thick clouds of black smoke billowing behind nearby homes as firefighters battled the blaze.
Several homeowners in the vicinity of the fire were advised to leave their residences. Residents of approximately 40 homes in Waldwick were still waiting to return home at 6 p.m.
Service on NJ Transit's Main/Bergen/Port Jervis Line was briefly suspended between Ridgewood and Allendale because of fire department activity. Service was restored by 3:40 pm. with residual delays.
