Moment pavement explodes just feet from shoppers… before flames start leaping from hole
A pavement in Boston, Lincolnshire, exploded moments after two shoppers crossed nearby, sending slabs and rubble into the air before flames emerged from the resulting hole. The incident prompted the closure of the street while emergency services investigated and made the area safe.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire began in an underground electrical installation and had gone out before firefighters arrived. National Grid Electricity Distribution attributed the explosion and small fire to an underground cable fault, which cut power to 68 properties from 1pm until 8.59pm on Thursday 20 August.
- Underground cable fault caused pavement explosion and fire.
- Shoppers narrowly avoided the blast.
- Sixty-eight properties lost power for nearly nine hours.
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Underground cables carry electricity beneath many streets, linking homes and businesses to the local power network. If a cable develops a fault, heat and pressure can build up in the space around it, sometimes damaging the pavement above.
National Grid Electricity Distribution is responsible for maintaining much of the electricity network in the area, while fire and rescue crews attend incidents where there is a risk from flames, smoke or damaged infrastructure. Streets may be closed after such an event so engineers can isolate the supply and check for remaining hazards.
Power cuts can affect nearby properties while faults are repaired and equipment is tested. The work can also involve digging up parts of the pavement to reach cables or underground electrical installations safely.