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Fire causes blackouts across city Fire causes blackouts across city
(10 minutes later)
Parts of Birmingham city centre were plunged into darkness when a fire broke out in an electricity sub station.Parts of Birmingham city centre were plunged into darkness when a fire broke out in an electricity sub station.
Fire crews were called to the network grid sub station on Sheepcoat Street in Ladywood at 0330 GMT on Saturday. The fire started in the building on Sheepcoat Street in Ladywood at 0330 GMT on Saturday.
The blaze sent smoke through the building causing power cuts to a large area of the city centre west of New Street Station. Power was lost to a large area of the city centre as supplies were cut to allow firefighters to tackle the blaze.
An estimated 5,000 shops and businesses were affected by the incident, as well as a number of homes. In all 8,500 businesses and homes lost power. Supplies were restored to 7,000 properties after 0900 but remaining supplies could be off all day.
Street lights and traffic signals were also knocked out, with power beginning to be restored almost six hours after the fire started. Street lights and traffic signals were also knocked out in the Broad Street, Brindley Place and Smallbrook Queensway areas.