OFFICIALS have revealed the suspected cause of an underground fire which cut electrical power to 20 homes on a major Bradford road. 

The incident happened on Wrose Road just before 10am last Wednesday. 

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) said crews were called to "reports of fire spotted at a manhole cover" on the road. 

They used powder to extinguish the fire, and WYFRS informed Northern Powergrid and Northern Gas Networks. 

Northern Powergrid said the incident was believed to have been caused after a section of its network was damaged following severe weather.

A spokesperson for Northern Powergrid said: "On January 31, at around 10am we were made aware of a fault on an underground cable on Wrose Road which caused a power cut for 20 customers.

"Our teams attended, ensured electricity supplies were safely isolated and then carried out the necessary repairs to restore power for our customers by around 4.15pm that day.

"We sent our customers text updates to keep them informed and one of our Proactive Customer Responders was in the community supporting residents - especially our priority services customers who may be more vulnerable in a power cut due to their medical or personal circumstances. 

"They provided hot water, hot food and drinks, mobile phone charging facilities, hot water bottles and our winter warmer care packs."

Northern Powergrid said the power cut "appeared to have been caused by a section of its network being damaged" after recent bad weather, including heavy rain.

The spokesperson added: "When a fault like this happens, heat - from the electricity passing through the equipment and cables - is generated where the damage is and, in some situations, this can result in the section of network generating smoke and burning.

"Our priority is to ensure this area of our network is safely isolated so we can complete the work needed to get customers' power back on."

Nick Thersby, operations manager for Northern Gas Networks, added: "Northern Gas Networks were informed of an electrical fire on Wrose Road, Bradford, by WYFRS on January 31.

"Emergency engineers attended the scene and ensured that the situation was safe. 

"We can confirm that the cause of the fire was not gas-related."

On the day, a worker at Shanuka News and Off-Licence on Wrose Road told the Telegraph & Argus: "I saw the fire.

"At first there was a black-coloured foggy smoke coming from underground.

"Then it caught fire.

"It burned with fury."