Overview
- An underground electrical transformer exploded Saturday night at the intersection of Bourbon and Conti streets, producing a street fire and heavy smoke in the French Quarter.
- Police evacuated the 400 block of Bourbon and the 700 block of Conti, cleared a nearby hotel, and closed multiple intersections to secure the area.
- The New Orleans Fire Department and Entergy responded on scene and reported no injuries in initial briefings.
- Entergy’s outage map showed power losses across several blocks including parts of Canal Street, and utility crews worked overnight to bring electricity back to the tourist district.
- The blast came as Fourth of July crowds were leaving the Quarter and as city officials maintained an elevated safety posture for holiday events and nearby gatherings.