Battalion Chief David Thompson, Jr.
Chattanooga firefighters responded to a commercial fire around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Captain Evan Rose with Ladder 1 said a transformer blew up at a substation adjacent to P.S.C. Metals at 980 W. 19th Street. Flames from the explosion spread to the exterior wall of P.S.C. Metals. The flames spread up the wall and were beginning to extend inside the structure, but the firefighters were able to put the fire out before it could cause much damage inside.
No fire-related injuries were reported.
EPB and a subcontractor responded to the scene to repair the damaged substation. When the transformer exploded, it caused a power outage to the surrounding area. As a result, people were stranded in elevators at two different locations. Chattanooga firefighters got the people out of one elevator. The others got out on their own when the power came back on.