Yesterday started out as a day with great anticipation of the 70 degree day that laid ahead.  The weather forecasters predicted a warm, extremely windy day.  Around 3 p.m. I heard a loud pop-type noise originating from outside and then saw smoke billowing from down the street.  I realized it was a transformer that exploded, however, it was on fire and the wind was strong.  I called 911 (along with other residents on the street) and called the power company.  The fire progressed at a rapid rate due to the wind.

The picture below was taken at 3:07 p.m. near the source of the fire.

Across the street from us is a line of duplex homes and behind the duplexes is an open field of brush.  While the pick-up truck firetruck was fighting the fire that was unfolding near the source, the wind drove the fire from the source, behind the duplexes across from us and down the street.  The photo below was taken at 3:11 p.m.

Within four minutes it spread the whole block distance and was getting way too close for comfort to the homes.

Once the fire was extinguished, I tried to catch a photo of the burnt area, however, it was too large to fit into the picture.

We are thankful that no one was injured, thankful no houses were burned and thankful for firefighters.  We are also thankful to the workers at KCP&L who repaired and restored our electricity in about four hours.  If we were in Cameroon and a transformer blew, we would be without power at least 24 hours.  Merci Seigneur!