A hydro transformer explosion at a retail strip in Ottawa’s west end has damaged and forced the closure of several businesses. According to a spokesperson for the Ottawa Fire Services, a hydro transformer at 767 Silver Seven Road in Kanata “malfunctioned and exploded” on Saturday evening. Firefighters say a small electrical fire was put out by the building’s sprinkler system. The blowout caused severe damage to Bob’s Rehab, a rehabilitation clinic offering massage and acupuncture services. Bob’s Rehab tells CTV News Ottawa in an email that the blast caused “concussive damage” to its walls and ceilings and will require major renovations. The clinic says an investigation into the cause remains underway. “Instead of shutting down, our team pulled together and fully renovated our temporary location in just one single day. Because of this 24-hour turnaround, we successfully prevented any disruption to our employees’ livelihoods and ensured zero cancelled appointments for our patients relying on us,” the business said in an email. The clinic says it has opened a new temporary location at 561 Vivera Pl. in Stittsville. The owner of Moo & Bean Café, a coffee shop attached to the clinic, says the business will likely be closed for at least five to six months to repair damage inside. “One of my staff members called me and said, ‘Chi I heard an explosion and we don’t know what to do,’” owner Chi Blondin told CTV News Ottawa. “She was telling me the walls were shaking as well. Things started falling off the wall onto the floor.” Inside the café, a broken section of the dividing wall between the two businesses is seen leaning into the store. The business is also flooded with water after firefighters sprayed the inside as a preventative measure. “It’s unexpected, but I guess the good thing is nobody was hurt,” Blondin said. Blondin says she’s working with her insurance to figure out what costs can be recovered and to ensure her staff is taken care of. The café only opened four months ago. “Hopefully we can open up sooner rather than later,” she said. Exhalo Spa, another business on the same strip, said in a social media post that it remains without power and doesn’t know when it might be able to reopen. Ottawa paramedics say they were not deployed to the scene of the fire. Ottawa firefighters say the building was de-energized by Hydro Ottawa and Enbridge Gas shut down its gas. The explosion has caused approximately $1 million in losses. An investigation is ongoing. With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Josh Marano
