Blown transformer forces four-hour evacuation at Northwest Philly apartment building

After a four-hour power outage due to a blown transformer around 11 p.m. Tuesday, residents of the Copley Manor Apartments were able to safely return to their homes.

Yvette Stewart, vice president of property management, said she is unsure what caused the apartment’s transformer to blow.

She said she suspected it was a result of the recent hot weather having forced a system overload from a high volume of air-conditioner usage.

She said it was a personal issue as well, since her mother resides in the apartment complex, located on the 100 block of W. Tulpehocken St. near the Germantown/West Mount Airy line.

On-site assistance

Stewart and six staff members provided assistance to the residents and emergency services during the evacuation. That included taking 30 residents to Germantown High School while others contacted family or friends for help.

Electricians were able to fix the transformer, which cleared a reported 200 residents to return to their apartments around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday. No other issues have been reported since.

Since the evacuation, Stewart said several occupants have thanked staff members for their help.

“It was a bad situation, but I think by being there and helping them get through it, it really helped them as well as getting the system up and running quickly,” said Stewart.