About 1000 customers still without electricity after the transformer station fire

About a thousand people are without electricity after the fire of a transformer station in North York

The fire is declared in a Hydro facility One near Finch Avenue and Signet Drive at approximately 12:15 pm

By the time the crews arrived at the scene, the structure was completely engulfed by the flames.

The firefighters were first not to use running water until they had shut off the power to the transformer station. After about 50 minutes, Hydro One crews arrived at the scene and turned off the power, allowing firefighters to start pumping water on the flames.

Toronto Fire indicates that the facility was also distant from the fire.

They state that at one point, the crews ran out of hose and had to find a solution to get water on the fire

During the height of the fire , the police closed Highway 400 from Highways 407 to 401. As well as Finch Avenue from Weston Road at Highway 400 and Signet Drive from Finch Avenue to High Meadow Place. However, Highway 400 and Finch Avenue were reopened

Public Works crews equipped with an aspiring tanker truck were also called to help clean up after the transformer began to release oil

. The fire was reversed, but Toronto Fire says the crews remain on the scene and spray water on a transformer to cool the oil that has overheated.

"We will be there until the transformer is cooled that it is safe and that it is a continuous process.This could last up to one day, at least, said district chief John Walsh at CP24 on the scene

Up to 35,000 customers without electricity

According to Toronto Hydro, there were as many as 35,000 customers without electricity at the height of the breakdown, this number was reduced to 7,000 early Saturday morning. Toronto Hydro was able to restore power to another 4,000 customers by 2:00 pm Saturday, leaving about 3000 in the dark. At 3:45 pm, only a thousand customers were in the dark.

Toronto Hydro states that the remaining affected customers could be without electricity for "long enough".

"Our crews in our control room really have a great job of redistributing energy and rerouting in order to bring back our customers even though this problem was not solved. They did a little magic in the control room by making changes, but the other 7,000 customers could be away for a while, "Toronto Hydro spokesman Tori Gbad told CP24 on Saturday morning. "We must be cautious and aware of overloading this system."

The blackout affects customers in an area bounded by Steeles Avenue to the north, Highway 401 to the south, Kipling Avenue West and Dufferin Street to the East

Toronto Hydro is asking customers in this area to "reduce their electricity consumption to avoid overloading the grid."

Toronto Fire indicates that the Department of the Environment was notified.

Pearson International Airport was also warned the possibility of a strong smoke while the fire was not still not under control.

No schedule was provided for restoration complete power