Eversource: Small Fire, Explosion In Downtown Newmarket, NH After Underground Power Line Struck
NEWMARKET, N.H. (CBS) -- A small fire and explosion occurred in downtown Newmarket, N.H. after an underground power line was struck by falling piece of sidewalk on Monday, according to an Eversource spokesman.
Spokesman Martin Murray says the incident happened before 5 p.m. on Main Street.
A secondary underground line that feeds a nearby small business was compromised, causing the fire and explosion.
There was either a pothole or deteriorated part of the sidewalk over the line, and someone ran over it with a vehicle as they pulled out of a driveway between buildings, according to Murray. The weight of the car caused part of the sidewalk to crumble and fall on to the line, he added.
When it struck the line, a small flash was seen and a boom was heard.
Officers and firefighters responded and put out the fire quickly.
There were no power outages other than the intentional power down of a business at the site while an Eversource technician spent 10 minutes fixing the line.
No one was hurt.
