Man dies after fire at power substation in Cowpens
COWPENS, S.C. (AP) — A man is dead and about 3,000 people were left without power after a fire at a Duke Energy substation in Spartanburg County.
Duke Energy said someone broke into the substation near Cowpens around 9:30 p.m. Monday and damaged equipment, which started a fire.
The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office says authorities found the body of 41-year-old Bobby Lee Lundeen of Whitney at the substation.
The blaze left about 3,000 people without power for around five hours. Cowpens Fire Chief James Caggiano says Lundeen was carrying tools that could be used to steal copper and did not have permission to be inside the substation.
Power substations have been targets for copper thieves in recent years. A Duke spokeswoman says the company is stepping up substation security.
