SAYREVILLE, NEW JERSEY – A JCP&L substation fire along Main Street in Sayreville has left hundreds of residents without power. The outage, which affected around 4,000 people at its peak, has since left 1,800 still without power as of Friday evening. Residents are not expected to have their electricity restored until Saturday.
The fire broke out during repair work inside the substation, resulting in injuries to a utility contractor. The victim, who sustained burns to his hands, was promptly taken to St. Barnabas Burn Center for medical treatment. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion around 11 a.m., causing widespread power loss in the area.
Sayreville officials, including borough administrator Glenn Skarżynski, explained that a temporary substation had been brought in the day prior in response to recent rolling brownouts. Businesses like Rustoni’s Pizza, located adjacent to the substation, were forced to close due to the outage. Owner Butch Nesimi expressed concern over potential food spoilage in refrigerators during the power loss.
In addition to impacting businesses, the outage also affected essential intersections in Sayreville, leading to traffic congestion on roads like Washington Road at Jernee Mill. JCP&L spokesman Chris Hoenig emphasized that repairs would be extensive and extend into the following morning. To assist those affected, the company provided ice and water at specified locations for residents in need.
Despite the challenges faced by the community, residents and businesses in Sayreville are working to cope with the power outage until services are fully restored. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining infrastructure to prevent such disruptions in the future.