Northridge Fire Inside LADWP Facility Knocks Out Power To Thousands

Update: Power has been restored to all customers, according to the LADWP. Repairs are continuing.

Update: As of 5 a.m. Sunday, 94,000 customers in areas of Northridge, Reseda, Lake Balboa, Tarzana, Granada Hills, Chatsworth, West Hills and Canoga Park are without power. According to LADWP, the current estimate for restoration for the majority of customers in the area without power is approximately two to four hours if no further problems occur as equipment is brought back online

NORTHRIDGE, CA — Firefighters Saturday battled heavy flames and explosions at an Los Angeles Department of Water and Power plant in Northridge that left 140,000 Valley customers without electricity, about 50,000 of which have had power restored, authorities said.

The flames and blasts were reported at 6:53 p.m. at DWP's Receiving Station J in the 18900 block of Parthenia Street, Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Most of the flames were doused within two hours, LADWP spokesman Michael Ventre said.

The fire was in an energized storage vault with 50,000 to 60,000 gallons of mineral oil, Humphrey said.

Eighty-four firefighters let the flames burn while DWP workers de- energized the facility, then they put water and foam on the fire, Humphrey said. They did not want to cause more damage by putting water on the flames while the plant was energized.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters had the bulk of flames out in two hours but were expected to remain on the scene into the morning to watch for flare-ups, he said.

Widespread power outages were reported as a result of the fire but Ventre said.

Residential and commercial customers in the areas of Northridge, Winnetka, Reseda, Lake Balboa, Tarzana, North Hills, Granada Hills, Chatsworth, West Hills, Canoga Park and Woodland Hills were affected. Power was restored to nearly 50,000 customers around 10 p.m.

Only one part of the facility was damaged but the entire facility had to be de-energized, the DWP said. Undamaged portions were to be re-energized once the situation stabilized.

Humphrey urged drivers in the area to be cautious going through intersections that might be dark due to the power outages.

People should check the batteries on flashlights and radios in case they lose their power, he said.

Also, people should check on young, elderly and infirm neighbors if they lose power.

Parthenia Street was closed in both directions between Vanalden and Yolanda avenues.

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City News Service