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Power Restored In Lakeland After Underground Blasts

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By JENNIFER LEIGH

News Channel 8

Published: September 29, 2008

Updated: 09/29/2008 04:44 pm

LAKELAND - About 500 Lakeland Electric clients – residents and various businesses including the Lakeland Center – had power restored about 12:30 p.m.

The power loss occurred when a pair of underground explosions raised manhole covers and knocked out traffic lights downtown, officials said

City spokesman Kevin cook says a 7,200 volt underground power cable malfunctioned, triggering an explosion that blew a manhole cover into the air on Lime Street near the Lakeland Center. A transfer switch, which is akin to a circuit breaker, tripped after the explosion and turned off power, preventing a more serious blast. No one was injured.

At 11:30 a.m., Lakeland Police Department Officer Darryl Vashon said he was driving east on Lime Street when he saw an explosion raise a manhole cover about 2 feet off the ground. When he got out to investigate, a second explosion caused manhole covers to rise again.

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