Schools
Update: Fernbrook Elementary Loses Power After Transformer Hit by Vehicle
The Maple Grove school remained in session throughout the day Wednesday. Power was restored about 1:30 p.m.. Police have arrested one person "on suspicion of driving while intoxicated."
Updated Dec. 12, 2012 2:05 p.m. - Power was restored to the school approximately 1:30 p.m., according to ISD 279 School/Community Relations Director Barbara Olson.
During the power outage, Olson told Patch generators were used for lighting in "critical" areas, such as bathrooms. Heat was not anticipated to be a problem throughout the outage.
Original Post 10:52 a.m. Dec. 12, 2012 - An early Wednesday morning vehicle accident near Fernbrook Elementary School in Maple Grove has lead to the power out at the Osseo School District 279 school.
Find out what's happening in Maple Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Maple Grove Police responded to one vehicle accident at 3:49 a.m. Wednesday morning at the 9600 block of Fernbrook Lane, according to Maple Grove Police Captain Keith Terlinden.
"Officers arrested one juvenile male on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. The vehicle hit an electrical box at that location that has cause a power outage to the school," Terlinden wrote in an email to Patch.
Find out what's happening in Maple Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The outage was reported around 6 a.m. Dec. 12, according to Xcel Energy representative Tom Hoen, who said the transformer “just feeds the school” and not nearby homes.
Hoen estimated it could be as late as 2 p.m. before crews have power restored to the school due to a need to replace a pole, transformer and do an emergency locate of underground wires.
As of 8:45 am, Wednesday, Dec. 12 on the ISD 279 - Osseo Area Schools Facebook page, the district addressed the outage. The information was shared on the school’s website page as well.
Fernbrook Elementary is temporarily without power. Our district has plans for situations like this, so we ARE holding school today. The school has water and natural light, and we have backup plans to serve cold lunch. The phones, however, do not work, so if you need to make an emergency call to the school, please call 763-226-8347. Please use that number for emergencies only.
Patch is currently awaiting additional details from the Osseo School District about the incident. The article will be updated when more information becomes available.
Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
