VIDEO: Transformer fire, oil leak at Indian Point Energy Center

A transformer fire shut down part of Indian Point Saturday night, sending smoke billowing into the air and oil leaking on the property, officials said.

The transformer on the side of the turbine building caught fire around 6 p.m., shutting down Unit 3 at the nuclear power plant on the Hudson River, Entergy, which owns and operates the power plant, said on its Twitter account.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who spoke briefly outside of the power plant, said that a lot of oil leaked from the transformer, which was saturated with foam to help contain its spread. Officials and commercial crews, supervised by the state Department of Conservation, were working to prevent the oil from seeping into the Hudson River, Cuomo said.

"Now we're worried about that leaking into the Hudson River," Cuomo said. "That would be a problem."

Entergy could not be reached for comment.

After being extinguished the fire was "apparently reignited" by the heat of the transformer, Cuomo said. Asked if all protocols worked properly in response to the fire, he said he was "not prepared to say that yet."

"This was a relatively minor situation, but when you're talking about a nuclear power plant there are no really minor situations," Cuomo said, calling the plant "controversial" because it is "a stone's throw from one of the most densely populated urban areas on the planet. So it is inherently problematic."

"We've had too many emergencies of late," Cuomo added. "These situations are very important, and again, I take nothing lightly when it comes to this plant specifically."

Montrose and Verplanck firefighters responded, as did state, county and Buchanan police.

Entergy said via Twitter that the public and employees were not in danger and there were no injuries.

"Indian Point is in safe, stable condition following transformer failure," Entergy tweeted.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said in a statement that, "We are relieved beyond words that tonight's incident at Indian Point did not involve serious injuries or loss of life.

"... Awareness-level communication protocols were immediately enacted by the Rockland County Office of Fire and Emergency Services, with all local systems operating flawlessly," Day's statement continued. "The County will continue to work jointly with Entergy officials and NRC regulators to keep our residents safe tonight and in the future."

Twitter: @MattSpillane