280 Homes left without Power as Metal Thieves cause Electrical Fires
There have been a total of 280 homes left without power from a series of fires due to the theft of copper wire from a local electricity substation. It was around 4am on Tuesday 19th November, that police and fire services were alerted, reporting that 4 fires had ignited in the consumer units of homes in the Greenock area, Inverclyde.
Three of the fires reported were only minor incidents, although one family of four had to be evacuated from their home on Devon Road after the property was filled with thick smoke. The father, 28, had to be taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. The fires ignited due to a spark by a power surge from the cutting of cables in a substation located in the Burns Square in the town. It is believed that the thieves took 3 metres of copper wire, estimated to be around £40.
Scottish Power is now working hard to try and restore electricity to the area as soon as possible. A spokesman for the company said, “The thieves have caused an ‘enormous’ inconvenience for the local people of the area, let alone risked their own lives to steal the cable.” Engineers have now been requested to inspect all the homes affected to ensure no other damage or further problems will be caused, when the power will be turned back on.
Last month, Scottish Power launched a campaign offering up to £10,000 for any information which could lead to the conviction of thieves who steal metal from these substations. Local police inspector Jennifer Skanks said, “This young family were lucky to escape their home so quickly with there 2 very young children, and with just 5 weeks to Christmas, their home has been severely damaged due to the surge in their 12 way consumer unit.”
The police have mentioned that, they would like to reassure the local community that they are carrying out extensive inquiries, as to track down the metal thieves. If anyone has any information that could assist in the following incident, they have been asked to get in contact with the police.