Exploding gas cylinders were the cause of a fire in Walsall on Wednesday evening that caused power cuts across the borough.
West Midlands fire service was called out to an area by junction 10 close to the site of the former Showcase cinema at approximately 5.10pm after residents reported an orange flash in the sky followed by a loud explosion.
Turns out it was gas cannisters that caught fire (or were set on fire) on wasteland between our substation & the old cinema. Something (a door?) was blown into our 132kv substation & caused the system to short. Drew
— National Grid UK Customers (ex-WPD) (@gridcustomersuk) January 10, 2023
Three fire engines rushed to the scene as the nearby Boundary Mill store was evacuated as a precaution, while crews tackled a blaze. Posting on Twitter shortly after the reports, the fire service confirmed the blaze was caused by the explosion of gas cylinders.
Turns out it was gas cannisters that caught fire (or were set on fire) on wasteland between our substation & the old cinema. Something (a door?) was blown into our 132kv substation & caused the system to short. Drew
— National Grid UK Customers (ex-WPD) (@gridcustomersuk) January 10, 2023
Numerous Walsall postcodes and local traffic lights were affected by a blackout caused by the explosion, which saw debris short-circuit a local substation. National Grid had fixed the problem and power was restored by approximately 7pm.
Police block the area near to Boundary Mill Store in Bentley. Picture credit: Robert Millard
No-one was injured at the scene and police are investigating whether the incident was an accident or caused deliberately.