Power went out for a handful of downtown Emporia businesses after a pole caught fire Monday morning.
Evergy spokesperson Kaley Bohlen tells KVOE News the pole in the 10 block of West Sixth caught fire around 8 am after some equipment failed. Emporia Fire responded to douse the fire.
Power was offline for about an hour while the equipment was either repaired or replaced. Nine businesses nearby lost power as a result.
Separately, Emporia fire crews battled a tree fire near the junction of Roads 240 and J-5 shortly before 10 am. Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Eron Steinlage says a prior grass fire likely worked into three trees near the intersection. The fire was put out quickly. It’s unclear when the initial fire developed.
