A dangerous incident involving a severed power line created quite the scene near the Adelaide Street Bridge this afternoon, prompting emergency crews to respond to reports of black smoke rising from the river area.

According to the London Fire Department, fire crews were called to Adelaide and Ada Street at the Bridge after witnesses spotted black smoke coming from the river area. What they discovered upon arrival was far more serious than a typical fire call.

The emergency response revealed that someone had cut through a large 4-inch live hydro feed, which resulted in a fire breaking out. The London Fire Department immediately contacted London Hydro to safely shut down the electrical feed before firefighters could move in to extinguish the blaze.

The incident has caused some traffic disruptions in the area, with one northbound lane of Adelaide Street being closed for safety reasons. However, both southbound lanes and one northbound lane remain open to keep traffic flowing through the area.

London Hydro crews are currently on scene working to repair the damaged line, though their work is expected to cause a significant power outage in the surrounding area while repairs are completed.

The London Fire Department took the opportunity to issue an important safety reminder to the public about the extreme dangers of tampering with electrical infrastructure. Cutting or interfering with live hydro lines poses serious risks that can be fatal.

High voltage cables carry enough electrical energy to cause severe burns, electrocution, or even explosions. Beyond the immediate danger to individuals, damaging hydro infrastructure can spark large fires and create widespread power outages that affect entire neighbourhoods.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly electrical infrastructure problems can escalate into emergency situations requiring multiple agencies to respond. Fire crews, hydro workers, and traffic management all had to coordinate their efforts to safely resolve the situation.

While the cause of how the power line was cut remains unclear from the fire department’s report, the focus has been on safely managing the immediate hazards and restoring power to affected areas.

Motorists travelling through the Adelaide Street area should expect some delays and plan alternate routes if possible while repair work continues. The timeline for fully reopening the closed northbound lane will depend on how long London Hydro needs to complete their repairs.

The quick response from emergency crews helped prevent what could have been a much more serious situation, containing the fire before it could spread and ensuring public safety while the electrical hazard was addressed.

London Hydro crews will remain on scene until the damaged 4-inch feed is fully repaired and power can be safely restored to the affected area.