Underground Fire Knocks Out Power in Downtown Little Rock
On Wednesday evening, a sudden underground fire along Sixth Street in downtown Little Rock led to a significant electrical outage, affecting several parts of the surrounding area. The blaze, which occurred beneath the city streets, rapidly spread and cut off power supply, causing widespread disruptions.
The fire department was quickly alerted to the scene, with firefighters rushing to contain the blaze. Capt. Jason Weaver of the Little Rock Fire Department confirmed that the unit responded swiftly to the manhole fire near West Second Street and Broadway late Sunday night. The fire sent smoke drifting across the downtown area, causing concerns about electrical disruptions.
Entergy crews rapidly sprang into action, working to restore power as quickly as possible. The utility company’s spokesperson, Brandi Hinkle, reported that most of the power had been restored within a few hours, except for isolated locations like the Pulaski County Courthouse and some street lights. The goal was to fully restore power by the end of the night or by early the next morning.
This incident is not an isolated case; similar manhole fires have caused power outages in downtown Little Rock before. For example, a manhole fire on West Second Street just last October resulted in a power outage that affected over 170 customers. In such cases, the fire department and Entergy work closely together to contain the blaze and restore electricity.
Despite the widespread disruptions, the crews involved demonstrated quick response times and high levels of coordination. The continuing investigation into the cause of the malfunction is crucial in preventing such incidents from happening again in the future.
With extreme weather conditions continuing to pose challenges for power grids, Entergy’s commitment to rapid response and customer communication remains vital in ensuring reliable service.
