UPDATE: Defective circuit breaker caused ComEd fire in Wilmette

A fire that knocked out power to more than 5,000 homes on April 30 in Wilmette reportedly began when a circuit breaker failed at a ComEd substation.

According to ComEd spokesperson David O’Dowd, the station, which is at 12 Street and Central Avenue, was shut down as a precaution at the request the Wilmette Fire Department until the fire was extinguished.

Power was restored to most of the affected homes within an hour and to the entire area, which included a portion of Kenilworth, within two hours.

“No transformers were involved in the fire and therefore they were returned to service,” according to a statement from ComEd.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, oil sometimes used on transformers can contain polychlorinated biphenyls, more commonly called PCBs, an organic pollutant; however, “ground samples were taken at the site and no toxins associated with PCBs were found,” according to ComEd’s statement. 

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