July 13--ARGENTA -- A $5 million transformer was destroyed Thursday night after it exploded due to a mechanical failure and caused a fire that took 30 firefighters nearly 12 hours to extinguish.
Argenta-Oreana Fire Protection District Chief Cory White said the explosion took place about 10:30 p.m. at an Ameren Illinois power substation on Cundiff Road, near the interchange of Illinois 48 and Interstate 72.
"I think people felt and heard the explosion for about a mile," he said Friday afternoon, noting that no one was injured from the explosion or blaze.
After receiving calls from area residents and people driving by the substation fire, White and his fellow firefighters, along with firefighters from the Hickory Point and Maroa fire protection districts, began to put out the blaze.
"We had to wait about an hour and a half for Ameren to clear the substation," he said, noting that from there, the firefighters had to use foam to help smother the fire.
Firefighters were able to leave the scene about 10:30 a.m. Friday. White estimated the damage to the transformer and substation to total about $8 million. He said no customers lost power due to a backup system on the substation.
Copyright 2013 - Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill.
