Crash Causes Brush Fire, Power Outage In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A crash involving a utility pole led to a brush fire and a power outage in Middletown on Monday, according to fire officials.

The crash happened on Randolph Road when a vehicle struck a utility pole with a transformer on it, which sparked a brush fire that eventually spread to the vehicle, according to officials.

“Fortunately, the driver escaped without injury,” officials wrote in a post on the South Fire District Firefighters IAFF Local 3918 union’s Facebook page. “Firefighters needed to wait for Eversource CT crews to shutoff power to the area before safely extinguishing the fire.

“Eversource crews remain in the area to complete repairs. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) was also on scene to evaluate spilled transformer contents into the nearby wetlands.”

Middlesex Community College also canceled classes on Monday night due to the power outage. Officials announced that the Middletown campus was closed and any classes starting after 4:30 p.m. were canceled. Meriden-based classes were held.