Explosions, Fire At Sterling Heights Substation
STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ) - A fire followed at series of explosions late Thursday afternoon at a DTE Energy substation in Sterling Heights.
A spokesman for DTE said the blasts knocked out power to about 1,600 homes and businesses in the area, on 18 Mile between Mound Road and Van Dyke Ave.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Sandra McNeil spoke with David Achtemeier, who was on the job next door at E&R Industrial Sales when it happened just after 4 p.m.
"We first saw the lights flicker about three times and after the third time they went completely out solid," Achtemeier said. "And I came downstairs and one of my co-workers said he saw some explosions, some material flying up in the air, so we knew it was probably pretty serious."
There were no injuries reported.
DTE officials are still trying to determine what caused the problem.
Some traffic lights were out in the area, some at major intersections including 18 Mile Road and Van Dyke. Police were directing traffic, but McNeil reported that traffic was "pretty much a mess" at the height of the afternoon rush.
She said most customers gave up waiting and went home after the lights went out Fuddruckers restaurant.
