Transformer Fire Knocks Out Power To Hundreds In Beachwood

BEACHWOOD, NJ — A transformer fire burned for nearly four hours early Monday morning knocked out power to hundreds of homes in Beachwood, authorities said.

The Beachwood Volunteer Fire Department said it was called to the fire about 1:30 a.m. but had to wait until after 5:15 a.m. before Jersey Central Power & Light was able to send a crew to shut off the power.

The transformer, on Birch Street near Beachwood Boulevard, was on fire with wires arcing and burning but until the power was shut off, it was not safe for firefighters to try to extinguish it, officials said.

Residents were told to stay inside in case power lines came down, and authorities set up a safe area around the pole, which burned through and collapsed, bringing the still-burning transformers to the ground, the fire company said. JCP&L arrived shortly after the pole collapsed.

"During the peak of last night’s storm, JCP&L crews responded to numerous hazard calls involving situations that posed a danger to public health, especially in southern Monmouth and Ocean counties," said Christopher Hoenig, a JCP&L spokesman. "All of these calls are prioritized, and crews are pulled from non-hazard outages to respond."

"The safety of our team members, first responders and the general public is JCP&L’s number one priority," he said.

Firefighters built berms around the storm drains to try to prevent the transformer oil from running into the drains and into the Toms River. The Berkeley Township HazMat team and the state Department of Environmental Protection were alerted.

After the power was shut down, the fire in the road was extinguished, the fire company said.

No one was injured and no homes were damaged, the fire company said.

The area has been blocked off as the power company makes repairs to restore the power. JCP&L's website was estimating restoration by 10:30 a.m.

This article has been updated with a statement from JCP&L.

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