
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, August 7, 1995                   TAG: 9508070079
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SHANNON D. HARRINGTON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

POWER OUTAGE BLAMED ON GUNSHOT, POLE FIRE

Either a gunshot or lightning left 1,200 Montgomery County residents without power for two hours Sunday after a utility pole caught fire.

The pole, on Virginia 8 in Riner, burst into flames about 10 a.m. after a porcelain insulator was broken and the electrical current came in contact with the wood, according to the Riner Fire Department.

Ted Aaron, Appalachian Power Co. supervisor for Montgomery and Floyd counties, said the insulator was broken by either a gunshot or lightning.

"It looks more like gunshot damage," he said.

About 600 homes had power restored by 12 p.m., after Apco crews replaced the pole. All but three of the remaining homes had power as of 4 p.m., Aaron said.

by CNB