Electricity pole catches fire on Priory Lane, Bridport

The electricity pole caught fire on Priory Lane, Bridport, just before 9am on November 7.

The overhead mains line was arcing and on fire, releasing bursts of white sparks.

Dafydd Reeve, from Rotherham, was visiting a friend in the area for his birthday.

He was in the shower when he heard the loud popping of the power line, followed by a flash.

Looking outside, he saw that the electricity pole was aflame, and there was an acrid smell from the rubber.

The fire on the utility pole (Image: Dafydd Reeve)

Daffyd said: "At that point in time I was just taking a shower and I heard this loud pop bang and saw this flash.

"I ran down to get dressed. I went out and there were more bangs.

"The electricity pole was on fire. The smell from the rubber was awful. The popping and the white explosion were like a firework fountain."

He and others in the area worked to stop people from unknowingly walking under the pole and experiencing a shower of sparks.

Fire crew on the scene (Image: Dafydd Reeve)

He says the power was cut for hours whilst the fire and subsequent damage was dealt with.

Dafydd added: "Fire crews quickly got people out of the way and people from the electricity company came down.

"As soon as the fire crew left the gent from the electricity grid turned it off.

"They have had to rewire the entire church. It is something you do not see every day. They had to be lifted up the pole to take down the burned wire. "

A spokesperson for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: "We were called to Priory Lane, Bridport at 8.48am on November 7 as an overhead mains power line was arcing and was on fire.

"One crew from Bridport attended and kept the scene safe until network engineers arrived on site."

The stop message, meaning the situation as under control and no further resources were needed, was given at 9.39am.