Lightning, Power Supply Fuse Into Brilliant Blaze

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1940, Page 6

Lightning, Power Supply Fuse Into Brilliant Blaze

A large area of Kensington, was brilliantly illuminated for a short period in the early hours of this morning.

The forces of nature and the forces pf man met when lightning struck a high tension electrical switch on a wooden power pole Li. the junction of Nixon Street and Kamo Road, the vicinity being lit up by a dazzling display of electrical fireworks for about five minutes.

Preceded by a violent clap of thunder at 1.15 a.m. lightning scored a direct hit on the high tension switch which exploded with a peculiar hissing sound, and, as the metal fused, sparks 1 shot into the air in an astonishing display.

Residents Awakened.

Residents who had not been awakened by the thunder were brought to consciousness by the peculiar noise of the electrical explosion and they scrambled to their windows to discover the cause.

Sparks and flames were shooting five or six feet from the top of the power poie which was transformed into a huge torch. District residents who had also been awakened by the thunder and lightning were amazed at the spectacle in distant Whangarei.

Alternately flaring and dying, the huge torch lit the low-lying clouds with a variety of colours while the rain-shrouded bulk of Parahaki was clearly discernible. The light reached even farther afield and from Maunu the waterfront was clearly seen.

Oil Burns, Metal Fuses,

The Whangarfci Fire Brigade was called by Mr R. Arneil who saw the lightning flash which hit the switch, but it had to wait until the power had been turned off before it could deal with the outbreak.

Excr»)t for charring, the pole escaped damage but the switch was transformed into a box of molten, twisted metal.

The switch was of the oil type and when struck by lightning the oil was ignited, causing dense black smoke, while the fusing of the electric cables carrying 2,200 volts and the metal was responsible lor the brilliant display of electrical

Borough Council electrical department employees commenced temporary repair work immediately, but it was not until about four o’clock that the service was restored. Difficult Repair Conditions. In the pouring rain the linesmen, who had to work under most difficult conditions, cut away the damaged cable and a second cable, normally used for street lighting, was disconnected and linked to the other cable to replace the damaged section.

Restoi’ation of the service was essential as a bakery and a dairy required power to carry on their operations, while the electric range users also needed power this morning. At 1 p.m. today permanent repairs were undertaken.