Power outage affects downtown Reading traffic, Reading MA
Please note:
This is not an official report. The headline and summary are generated by automated AI systems from public-safety dispatch audio. Always verify with official sources.
Road ClosureAs discussed during the dispatch call, officers and firefighters responded to a power and traffic signal outage in downtown Reading, possibly caused by a transformer issue near Smith Avenue. Several wires were reported down and smoking, prompting engineering to be notified. The lights were later observed to be functioning again and the situation appeared resolved.
Audio|Heard on: Reading Police & Fire Dispatch
Listen to dispatch call
02:38
Transcript:
00:00
Two three has the update.
00:02
Nine seven one.
00:07
That's him.
00:09
All right, just in case if you get any calls, the lights don’t on.
00:14
All the traffic lights are shut off.
00:15
Doesn’t want to flash.
00:18
We’re having an issue at the scene.
00:21
Copy.
00:29
Nine four eight.
00:35
Nine four.
00:37
Sorry, I didn’t catch (name withheld)’s last.
00:40
Did you say engineering is being notified of that?
00:45
Right now, full calls going on right now.
00:47
I’ll try and get to them right away.
00:50
Running a police and fire for Smith Ave, possible transformer explosion.
00:56
Several wires down, smoldering.
01:02
All right, I’m gonna head that way.
01:06
Crazy.
01:26
Fire is still on Engine Four,
01:28
Smith Ave for the investigation.
01:33
Ready Fire C3.
01:36
C3?
01:38
You can have me at Engine Fourth call.
01:41
Ready Fire Hazard.
01:45
All right, I’m going out.
01:46
Looks like Eaton by Smith Ave.
01:50
There’s some wires down on the ground smoking.
01:53
That’s all I see so far.
01:55
What do you see?
01:59
Nine four to nine seven.
02:02
Good.
02:05
I’m in the square now.
02:07
What lights did you say were flashing?
02:10
Just as I passed through, they seemed to be back and functional.
02:14
But just prior to that, the whole downtown area shut down.
02:20
Roger. 94 ready.
02:23
94.
02:25
I don’t know if it was the FD’s Opticom, but it looks like everything in the square is functioning properly now.
02:32
You can probably maybe just notify engineering what occurred, but it seems like everything’s back to normal here.
Disclaimer:
This transcript is automatically generated by AI from live dispatch audio. Dispatch communications may include background noise, overlapping speakers, or rapidly evolving situations, and automated transcription may not capture all details or context.
Location mentioned:
Main St, Reading, MA 01867
This shows a Google Street View of the area near the location, which might not be the exact address.
Correct
Incorrect
Note:
Auto-generated from live dispatch audio, which may contain errors. Dispatch calls are not confirmed incidents. Always verify with official sources.
