Crime & Safety

'I Heard a Boom:' Transformer Problem Under Morristown Street

Town has experienced several explosions over 20 years.

Teams will be working Thursday night to investigate an underground transformer issue outside of , near the corner of Maple Avenue and Market Street.

Firefighters were on the scene shortly after Rios Engraving owner Chinie Rios called in what she initially thought might have been a manhole explosion, at around 3:30 p.m.

"I heard a boom. I heard noise, and I saw smoke [coming from a grate]," Rios said.

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Rios had been nearby for a similar explosion 20 years ago, "so, I know these things can happen," she said. It prompted her to call right away.

Morristown Fire Department Capt. Robert Whitehead said something that may have been smoke was "whisping out of the grates" on the street, but there was no other significant external sign of damage. No manhole was blown out of place.

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Utility company JCP&L expects to have two crews investigating the scene Thursday night. A JCP&L engineer said some of the reported smoke may actually have been steam.

Morristown Police Detective Lt. Steve Sarinelli said no one was hurt in the incident, and power was not disrupted.

Ron Morano, senior public relations representative for JCP&L, said a circuit had tripped and no customers were affected. "We're investigating right now," he said.

Morristown has had a history of underground explosions, the most recent of which, in May 2010, severely damaged the —which just reopened after months of repairs. There were three other underground explosions in the months preceding that, and several over the last 20 years. An explosion in 2005 caused a daylong blackout; a 1994 explosion shut down the library for more than a month.

JCP&L has conducted several upgrades to Morristown's underground electrical systems over time, and has told officials previously it does not believe there is a continued, elevated risk of more explosions.

Morris Township-Morris Plains Patch Editor Kathy Shaskan contributed to this story.


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