PPL reported more than 8,400 customers without power in Allentown on Wednesday evening after a fire at an electric substation.
Video shared to social media showed flames emanating from the electrical substation at 14th and Green streets after 5:30 p.m. Other videos and photos showed a flashing bright green light in the sky from blown transformers.
Shawn Schwoyer was working at the Haja Rose Bowl bowling alley nearby on Sumner Avenue at the time of the fire. He said he and others inside the building heard a loud buzzing noise and were trying to figure out what it was.
They noticed the bright light coming from outside, and went outside to check it out. That’s when he captured video of the fire.
Power inside the building came back on about 5 minutes later, Schwoyer said. Others on social media who initially lost power reported it being restored within 10 to 15 minutes.
The bulk of the power outages were in Center City and eastern…
