Explosion at electrical transformer rattles Colorado foothills near old uranium mine; no injuries

DENVER (AP) _ An explosion at an electrical transformer rattled the foothills west of Denver early Tuesday near an old uranium mine, authorities said. <br/><br/>Jefferson County sheriff's deputies

Tuesday, December 26th 2006, 8:45 am

By: News On 6

DENVER (AP) _ An explosion at an electrical transformer rattled the foothills west of Denver early Tuesday near an old uranium mine, authorities said.

Jefferson County sheriff's deputies confirmed the explosion was in a transformer on a private road near the inactive Schwartzwalder Mine, spokesman Jim Shires said. There were no injuries and no reports of radiation, he said.

Flames could be seen at an electrical transformer in the area.

High winds and blowing snow likely contributed to the explosion, said Troy Whitmore, a spokesman for United Power, which owns the transformer. He said brief power interruptions were reported in the area overnight.

Whitmore said the transformer may have been dedicated to the mine, which used large amounts of electricity when it was in full operation.

United has about 62,000 customers in six Denver area counties.