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Homes left without power after substation fire

Alex Green
BBC News, South West
BBC Fire engines and firefighters at the scene of a substation fire in Exeter. There are hose reels on the ground and fire crews dotted around in the background.BBC
Crews remain at the scene for damping down and monitoring hotspots

Hundreds of homes have been left without power and nearby properties were evacuated after a fire at a substation.

Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (DSFRS) said it had received multiple 999 calls about a blaze off Fore Street in the centre of Exeter.

At about 10:30 BST, 281 homes were without electricity in the city.

National Grid said its engineers were working to restore power as quickly as possible.

Fire engines and firefighters at the scene of a substation fire in Exeter. There is red and white tape creating a cordon, and two men wearing high-vis clothing.
People's power should be restored by 21:00 BST, the National Grid said

Some residents in the immediate vicinity of the incident have been evacuated from their homes, the fire service said, adding no injuries had been reported.

The cause of the blaze has not yet been confirmed.

In a post on X, the fire service said the blaze was "causing lots of smoke in the area".

A DSFRS spokesperson added: "Please keep your windows and doors closed if you live in the area."

The fire service said the incident was being scaled back, with two crews remaining in place to check for hotspots.

It said about 25 people were evacuated from nearby properties and many would be able to return to their homes shortly.

The Riverside Leisure Centre is being used as a respite centre for displaced residents.

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