Updated: Foxborough Sputters to Light

*Update: As of 11:00 a.m Wednesday, National Grid has 7 Crews in Town and 13 Tree Crews in Foxborough. The National Guard will be assisting National Grid Crews. According to Town Manager, Kevin Paicos, About 20-percent of homes are energized. By the end of today they expect that figure to improve dramatically as the primary lines on main roads are fixed. It will still be a few days before Foxborough is back to 100 percent.

If you have felt left out in the dark over the past few days, you are not alone. Essentially the entire town of Foxborough has been left without electric power from the time touched down in Foxborough Sunday morning through Wednesday. Electric power was restored Tuesday in a few areas in Foxborough and in some businesses on Route 1, including Patriot Place, Rodman Ford and Gillette Stadium.

Residents awoke Tuesday morning, scratching their heads when learning of Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium's newly regained power.

“Why Patriot Place and not Foxborough residents?” was the main comment from many Foxborough residents throughout Tuesday.

The answer to that question was uncovered Tuesday afternoon, when it was revealed to town officials that the Gillette facility has two electrical feeds. The Patriots spent millions of dollars when they built Gillette stadium to ensure backup power after experiencing a blackout during the 1996 AFC championship game in the former stadium. One feed comes from Foxborough, the other from Wrentham, providing a backup in case of a power outage. That feed went live early Tuesday and regained power to Patriot Place, the stadium and some businesses along Route 1.

Foxborough’s Board of Selectmen addressed the power situation in town at their meeting Tuesday night at Town Hall.

Chairman of the Board, Larry Harrington, first thanked town employees for their hard work clearing roads and downed trees since the storm arrived on Sunday. He also thanked State representatives Jay Barrows (R-Mansfield) and James Timilty (D-Walpole) for their support.

Timilty also called on legislators Tuesday to ask Gov. Deval Patrick to take “operational control” of the utility if National Grid continued to leave Foxboro residents without electric power.

Harrington addressed the break down in communication between the town of Foxborough and National Grid.

“National Grid did not return phone calls at first, and [we have put pressure on them],” said Harrington. 

Foxborough Fire Chief, Roger Hatfield, noted that around 3:30pm Tuesday, Foxborough gained assistance from a National Grid community liaison to help completely kick start the power restoration efforts in Foxborough.

“I am really proud of this community,” said Chief Hatfield in reference to all the major department heads and residents coming together in a time of crisis.

Paicos noted during the meeting, that National Grid crews are now in Foxborough and will be working through the night and Wednesday. A few streets have already seen their power regained including Neponset Ave and North Street.

The Kraft Organization has donated two, 900 kilowatt generators, that will help power the senior centers in town. The Kraft Organization will also set up lighting towers at key intersections in town and are donating large amounts of ice. Ice will be distributed outside the Public Safety Building, 8 Chestnut St., starting at noon Wednesday.

Chief Hatfield offered the following safety tips to residents to keep in mind as power is being restored:

• There are still many power lines down and some could be alive – Do not attempt to touch the wires. 
• Double bag the food that you throw away. The town is working with Waste Management to pick up trash in a safe and effective manner. 
• Check on all your neighbors.
• Drink plenty of water
• There will be extra police out at night for assistance. 

There is still no official time line for when 100 percent of Foxborough will be back online. National Grid says most Foxborough customers will have power by Friday.