The power plant of the York Light and Heat Company was located on Elm and Pearl Streets, Biddeford. At 5:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon, September 3, 1900, the boiler exploded. Two men were killed and Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard had no electricity that night. The following July the two large buildings on either side of the plant burned. Many residents of Biddeford came out to watch the conflagration.