Early Sunday morning around 6 AM a fire broke out at Entergy’s Gilark substation. While this caused a brief city wide power outage, significant damage was sustained that will cause the City of Minden to undergo a city wide power outage in the near future. The exact time of this outage has not been determined, as city officials and Entergy officials are still coordinating and trying to figure out the best solution.
In a public notice, Nick Cox stated that the substation where the fire broke out “is our only tie to the power grid. It is 115,000 volts and our sole power entry location. The City of Minden is actively coordinating efforts with Entergy and AEP to address the situation.”
Planning amongst the city, other governments offices, and local organizations is already underway to help local citizens during the power outage.
“As part of our response plan, we are making arrangements in partnership with the Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to establish cooling centers at easily accessible locations throughout the city. These centers will provide relief from the extreme heat and offer necessary resources. Additionally, we are collaborating with local organizations, including the Red Cross, to ensure the support and well-being of our most vulnerable residents, such as the elderly, children, and those with medical conditions,” the public notice stated.
When the outage will occur or how long it will last is yet to be determined. The Minden Press-Herald will continue to monitor the situation and release more information as it becomes available.