Transformer Fire Burns Cars And Closes Roads In Bergen County: Video

HACKENSACK, NJ — A transformer fire burned seven cars in Hackensack Wednesday morning.

"Avoid the area of Prospect Ave and Berry St.," the Hackensack Fire Department posted before 6 a.m. "Active fire due to downed power lines and blown transformer. Companies are awaiting PSEG to cut the power."

Officials said the Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 4:45 a.m. to a call for a utility pole and wires down at Prospect Avenue and Berry Street.

First Platoon Engine 2 had to wait to extinguish the blaze due to the electrical hazard, Fire Captain Kurt Nemeczek said.

"Once PSEG arrived and cut the power, First Platoon members were able to quickly extinguish the fire," Nemeczek said.

A total of seven cars were damaged, officials said.

Hackensack police were on the scene on Wednesday collecting car owners' information, said Police Captain Gregory Zisa.

There were no injuries in the blaze.

While the blaze has been extinguished, the intersection remained closed as of 9 a.m.

ABC News reported early Wednesday that 1,000 homes had lost power due to the explosion, but an outage map showed that only 29 households were still without power in Bergen County as of 8:30 a.m.

PSE&G released a statement around noon saying, "While continuing restoration efforts across our service territory, PSE&G crews responded early this morning to an incident on Prospect Avenue in Hackensack. Upon arrival, crews secured the area after identifying a broken utility pole and downed electric equipment.

"Power has been restored to all residential customers impacted by this incident, and crews continue making permanent repairs to the damaged equipment. The cause of the incident remains under investigation."