MEXICO — A power outage hit much of Mexico and Rumford on Thursday afternoon after a Central Maine Power Co. transformer caught fire on Main Street.
A CMP spokesman at the scene, who declined to be identified, said the cause of the fire was unknown.
A couple of attempts to douse the blaze were needed to finally extinguish it.
An unnamed CMP employee, in a cherry picker, first attempted to put out the flames with a chemical spray.
When that didn’t work, members of the Mexico Fire Department handed the CMP employee a hose containing water and foam. A steady stream for about 15 minutes finally put out the fire.
The transformer is located adjacent to the Mexico Chicken Coop.
Mexico Fire Chief Gary Wentzell said 10 firefighters responded to the call. Mexico police and firefighters diverted traffic away from the scene for more than half an hour.
Power returned to most areas within an hour. The CMP spokesman said getting power to the Chicken Coop would take longer.
-
- An unidentified Central Maine Power Co. employee attempts to extinguish a burning electrical transformer Thursday afternoon on Main Street, Mexico.
-
- An unidentified Central Maine Power Co. employee attempts to douse a fire in a transformer on Main Street, Mexico, Thursday afternoon.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
