Community Corner
Electrical Transformer Burns in Los Gatos Due to Hot Weather
A total of 18 businesses on North Santa Cruz Avenue had been without power for about 24 hours due to a transformer burning Friday afternoon.
An electrical transformer burned up Friday evening on North Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown causing a power outage that affected nearly 20 businesses near the Los Gatos Shopping Center.
The device's malfunctioning didn't cause a fire or harm anyone as it happened underground, but left several merchants near Safeway such as Yumi Yogurt, 464 North Santa Cruz Ave., without power for more than 24 hours.
The transformer stopped working at about 5 p.m. Friday when it overheated and was expected to be repaired with power restored by Saturday evening.
As of 7 p.m. today, however, crews from the Intren company were continuing to work to test the new transformer after being sent to the area to do the repairs by Pacific Gas & Electric.
"We've been trying to keep them [businesses] with power with generators today," said Gordon Wanous, a member of the Intren crew.
Businesses affected included the Vacuum Store, Sweet Pea's, several hair salons and others, totaling 18, Wanous said.
"We have to heat up the new transformer, test the secondary voltage, put it together and then they'll be back in power," he added.
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