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FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – A fire at a power substation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida left thousands without electricity.
Fort Lauderdale's fire crews were dispatched to the Sistrunk substation on Tuesday, along the 400 block of Northwest Sixth Street.
Police in Fort Lauderdale confirmed the start of the fire after a lightning strike.
Neighbors reported hearing loud explosions before the power went out for a second, then the lights blinked and the power turned off again.
"Very strong explosions. I was on Fifth Avenue and Fourth Street. The flames were so huge. They were going … I do not know how high, "said witness Shawn Williams. "So scary, and the explosions were so loud. I threw my car in reverse to keep it away. I could feel the heat and I thought it was going to overwhelm me. It was incredible. More than an hour, but we have already seen four explosions. Everyone was bigger than the other. They were almost one after the other, but the flame was going up, and it was just huge. I have never seen anything like this in my life. "
The Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Dean Trantalis, said officials have a helicopter flown over to monitor some of the blackouts.
Trantalis said, "It's just so people stay as far away as possible from this area. If you need to travel normally in this area, please find another route. Signals work partially here on Sistrunk [Boulevard] and also on Andrews [Avenue] and United States 1. Broward [Boulevard], Sunrise Boulevard, try to stay out of these streets. We try to get the power back as quickly as possible, but it's better not to travel tonight. "
According to FPL, at 10:45 pm, about 22,000 customers are without electricity because of the fire.
FLFR said the crews are controlling the fire and working with FPL to restore power.
"Fortunately, FPL has managed to gradually restore power," said Trantalis. "We have a helicopter flying over to give us a real-time estimate of areas being restored."
The blackout canceled a scheduled performance of "Dear Evan Hansen" at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday night.
No injuries were reported.
Check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this story in development.
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