Energy Incident Register
Register / Grid infrastructure / EIR-0404
← Back to the list
Grid infrastructureUnited KingdomEIR-0404

Substation fire in Oakington, Cambridgeshire triggers local power outage affecting nearby school

Nov 2025Published 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
Substation in Oakington, Cambridgeshire
Operator
UK Power Networks
What
Fire at electrical substation causing power outage
Injuries
None reported
Response
Fire crews attended with UK Power Networks to make area safe

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): UK Power Networks

What happened

A fire occurred at an electrical substation in Oakington, Cambridgeshire, causing a power outage that affected a nearby residential area and a primary school. The outage began in the evening and continued into the following day, forcing the school to close for a day while power was restored. Fire crews attended the substation and worked alongside UK Power Networks, the local electricity distribution network operator, to make the area safe. A separate fire alarm activation at the school on the same evening was investigated by fire crews, who found no fire and took no firefighting action. No injuries were reported in connection with either event.

Contributing factors

Not reported.

Lessons learned

  1. A fire at an electrical substation can cut supply to a school, so operators should check backup connections for nearby critical sites.
  2. Fire crews must work with the network operator to isolate a substation after an electrical fire before restoration can start.
  3. A school with a single grid link needs plans for a multi-day outage after a substation fault.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, fire suppression and firefighting, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the substation fire
  • Equipment model and age
  • Cost of damage and restoration

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

Source

cambridge-news.co.uk

Other entries that name Cambridgeshire

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

See the register's stories first in Google: add it as a preferred source.

Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents in the United Kingdom, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Grid infrastructure incidents in the United Kingdom: 117 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one.

Browse the full register or submit an incident.