Power restored after LIPA substation fire

Power has been restored to Bellmore area homes Friday after an electrical fire at a power substation, authorities said.

Almost 14,000 customers in the area lost power after a transformer fire started 3:15 p.m. at the Long Island Power Authority's substation in Levittown, just east of the Wantagh State Parkway by North Jerusalem Avenue, said agency spokeswoman Elizabeth Flagler. Power to the substation was cut off 15 minutes later, which is when customers in the area lost power, she said.

"The fire is out," Flagler said shortly after 5 p.m. "The cause is still under investigation." No one was injured, she said.

Retiree Louis Worsthorn said he was outside his North Bellmore home when he heard "things blowing up."

"It sounded like someone dropped a Dumpster from the back of a truck -- twice," he said.

Worsthorn said substantial plumes of black and gray smoke rose from the LIPA substation a few blocks from his home.

Police evacuated homes on Hoover Street and Oxford Place in East Meadow, ones that were closest to the substation.

Customers were without power for about 45 minutes, but power was restored by 4:10 p.m., Flagler said.

Police said the fire affected traffic lights in Bellmore, North Wantagh and Merrick, causing major congestion.

A police spokeswoman described it as a "big old mess."

After hearing explosions, Worsthorn said, the lights in his house flickered, came back on, then went out again for an hour before being restored at about 4:15 p.m. Just before 5 p.m., the retiree reported seeing cars jamming North Jerusalem Road, a main street, at a time when it's usually clear.

Police were directing traffic and making sure emergency vehicles could come through, Worsthorn said.