We are offering a £5000 reward after a serious fire next to an electrical substation in Helensburgh led to power supplies being cut from 340 homes and businesses, including the Co-op supermarket.
The fire, which is suspected to have been started deliberately, took hold of the substation at Sinclair Street at around 6.45pm on the 28th April.
The substation enclosure was completely destroyed by the fire and the electrical equipment damaged beyond repair. Luckily the fire did not spread to adjoining properties.
Our Engineers managed to reconnect most customers within 10 mins by isolating power to the substation even though the fire was ongoing and temporarily switching supplies onto another part of the electricity network.
A generator was used to restore power to the supermarket however temporary repairs were required to restore remaining supplies, all of which was completed in around 8 hours.
We have already completed the installation of a new substation at the site, securing local power supplies and restoring the network to normal.
Alistair Menzies, SP Energy Networks District Manager for the area, said: “Vandalism to electricity distribution network can often result in power loss to communities, cause fires and has the potential to result in serious harm to those responsible. Those carrying out such acts not only risk serious injury but also loss of life.
“It is suspected that this fire was started deliberately, and it beggars belief that anyone could risk their own life or the lives of local people in this way if this fire had spread.
“We are supporting police enquiries into this incident and we would also encourage anyone who has any information on those responsible to come forward.”
We are encouraging anyone who can provide information on the incident to either contact the Police through the national 101 telephone number or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or to call us on 0800 092 9290.
We will pay £5000 to anyone who provides information which eventually leads to the conviction of any of those responsible.