Electrical Junction Box Fire Causes Explosions in Portland, Maine

A series of loud explosions startled people in downtown Portland Sunday afternoon after an electrical junction box caught fire outside a building on Fore Street.

Witness video from the scene captured several popping sounds followed by visible flames coming from an electrical box mounted on the exterior of the Hub Furniture building. According to WMTW, the blasts drew attention from people nearby as Portland fire trucks raced down Fore Street to respond to the situation.

According to the Portland Fire Department, crews were dispatched after reports of a fire outside the building. When firefighters arrived, they quickly identified the situation as an electrical hazard and requested that the power grid in the area be shut down.

Deputy Chief Dale Dyer said the decision was made to have the power company temporarily cut electricity to the area so firefighters could safely work around the energized equipment.

The news station reported that once power was disconnected, crews were able to quickly bring the flames under control and extinguish the fire before it spread further.

Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

The electrical fire did cause a temporary power outage for parts of Portland’s East End while crews worked to secure the area and make repairs. Central Maine Power crews later restored electricity to affected customers Sunday afternoon, WMTW said.

The exact cause of the transformer fire has not yet been determined. Portland fire officials say the incident remains under investigation as they work to determine what led to the malfunction.