Power outage puts Osborn Correctional Institution on lockdown after underground line short-circuits

SOMERS, Conn. (WFSB) — A power failure at Osborn Correctional Institution Wednesday sent one staff member to the hospital and placed the facility on lockdown, the Connecticut Department of Correction said.

The staff member who went to the hospital has been treated and released.

The outage began around noon when a high-voltage underground electrical line failed. People inside the facility reported hearing a loud blast at the time of the short-circuit.

Correction and fire department personnel responded to the scene. Fire officials cleared the area and determined it was safe. The facility was then switched to a backup generator while maintenance staff and electrical contractors began assessing the damage.

The DOC said it could not estimate how long repairs would take. Street power was restored to the Osborn Correctional Institution at around 8:15 p.m.

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