An attempt to steal copper cable from an underground vault triggered an electrical surge that knocked down power lines and set a minivan on fire in Saint Paul on Sunday night, the fire department said. No injuries were reported.
The attempted theft happened in the parking lot of the former Sears building on Rice Street off Interstate 94 around 10:30 p.m., according to Saint Paul Deputy Fire Chief Jamie Smith. The surge caused power line failures on Western Avenue on both sides of I-94 at Saint Anthony and Concordia avenues.
Energized power lines fell onto a minivan and ignited it. Firefighters extinguished the fire after Xcel Energy confirmed that power to the area had been cut.
READ MORE > Saint Paul coverage
Multiple people in the Rondo neighborhood reported hearing a loud boom. City Council Member Anika Bowie described it on social media as an extremely loud explosion that shook the area. Traffic camera video captured a bright green flash before the vehicle was engulfed in flames beneath the downed lines.
> Sign up for the MN CRIME newsletter
Power was out in the surrounding area as a result of the incident. Xcel Energy arrived on scene to take over repairs.
An Xcel spokesperson says around 400 customers lost power in the area from the incident. Most service was restored overnight but crews were conducting additional repairs this morning for the remaining 74 customers impacted.
No suspects have been identified in the attempted copper theft.
