Excitement in the Neighborhood

When I got back from the dentist the 3 older kids were across the street playing. We were trying to figure out a quick lunch and trying to get last minute things ready for Ammon's birthday party when we heard a LOUD bang outside. We ran out front to find out what it was. Right then we saw the neighbors run to the kids in the neighbors garage to check on them. The kids were walking out with scared looks on their faces. They were asked what experiment they were working on that made the boom sound. They said it wasn't them. What it was was the power transformer in the backyard of the house they were playing at.
A few minutes later I look out and see everyone looking in the backyard at the power pole, then I see a orange flicker from the pole. The power transformer was now on fire. It wasn't big, but it was burning and it stunk BAD. Like something was burning with it-we thought squirrel.
The neighbors called the fire department and then all the neighbors were out talking and waiting. It took almost 15 minutes for the fire trucks to arrive and by then it was out.


The firefighters and the police officers that came got some good PR. The fire fighters asked the kids who they call for a fire, what their address was and their phone numbers. Then all the kids got stickers, pencils and magnets.
The electric company came to repair the damage. Power was back on by then and we all decided that we should have brought out the grills and had a block party!!


Update: A week later a transformer blew on our side of the street just a house or so away. This time the kids were at our house in the basement and went into total darkness.