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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-0315

Isle of Palms transformer fire triggers outage after years of warning signs

Mar 2026Published 7 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorElectrical
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Isle of Palms, South Carolina
Operator
Dominion Energy
What
Pole-mounted distribution transformer caught fire
Injuries
None reported
Cause
High winds caused energised lines to contact the pole

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Dominion Energy

What happened

A pole-mounted distribution transformer caught fire in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, igniting the utility pole and causing debris to land in nearby yards. The event left more than 900 customers without power for several hours. Dominion Energy, which operates the equipment, stated the cause was high winds that caused energised lines to contact the pole, triggering a fuse to operate as designed and cut power, which some observers described as an explosion.

A nearby resident said the transformer had shown signs of trouble for several years, including a lightning strike and repeated crackling and popping noises, which he reported to the utility multiple times before the fire. Dominion Energy replaced the damaged equipment and restored service. No injuries were reported. Property damage, including landscaping, was noted at the affected residence.

Contributing factors

Dominion Energy attributed the failure to high winds causing contact between energised lines and the pole. A resident reported recurring abnormal noises and a prior lightning strike over several years, though the utility maintains the cause was weather related rather than a failing unit.

Lessons learned

  1. Operators must log and track public reports of crackling noises on pole-mounted distribution transformers to spot degradation before fire.
  2. Clear public communication after fuse operation on distribution lines reduces alarm when events appear as explosions.

More lessons on emergency response and public communication, detection and monitoring, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Transformer model and age
  • Exact duration of the outage
  • Cost of damage and repairs

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

abcnews4.com

Published 2026-09-07. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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