Emergency services descended on an industrial estate in St Albans yesterday (Monday) evening following an alleged explosion and subsequent fire.
About eight fire engines ‘from across the county’ as well as police and the ambulance service went to the Valley Road Industrial Estate at about 6pm.
Countless homes in the area were left in darkness following power cuts thought to have been caused by the incident.
One nearby resident, Jim Harper, suffered a power cut at his home. He recounted what he saw to the Herts Advertiser: “There was a major control unit, they came from all over the county.
“There must have been about 45 fire men there.
“I walked down there at about 8.30pm to see what it is all about because my son said that the road was closed off.
“There were lots of people trying to get past to their homes because there is a residential bit nearby.”
The buildings affected include Fastlane Garage and the Global Domestic Appliances.
An ambulance service spokesperson confirmed to the Herts Advertiser that no one was seriously injured or hospitalised.
A man in his 60s was treated at the scene for breathing difficulties but was not taken to hospital.
A spokeswoman from Herts Police said: “We attended to assist with road closures on Beech Road, Firbank Road and Valley Road while fire crews dealt with the incident.
“The road closures were lifted at 10.20pm.”
A spokeswoman from UK Power Networks said that engineers restored power to all 245 customers affected in stages by about 10.20pm.
She added that the cause of the power cut is being investigated.
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