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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-0558

Substation transformer fire cuts power to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming

July 2026Published 8 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisional
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
F.E. Warren Air Force Base near Cheyenne, Wyoming
What
Substation transformer fire knocked out power
Injuries
None reported
Response
Western Area Power Administration and High West Energy crews worked to restore supply
Cause
Not reported

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

What happened

A fire at a substation transformer knocked out power across F.E. Warren Air Force Base near Cheyenne, Wyoming, on a Saturday night. The base reported that critical components at the substation were damaged, and power had not been restored by the following day. Crews from the Western Area Power Administration and High West Energy were working with the base to restore supply, with an estimated repair time of 12 to 24 hours from the Sunday update.

The outage occurred during a period of high temperatures, prompting the base to issue heat safety guidance to personnel and families living on site while power remained off. No injuries, fatalities or evacuations were reported in connection with the fire. Total restoration time and the technical cause of the fire have not been confirmed in reporting so far.

Contributing factors

The base attributed the outage to damage to critical components at the substation caused by the transformer fire; no further technical cause was disclosed in the source, and it is not confirmed which organisation operates the substation.

Lessons learned

  1. A substation transformer fire can damage critical components and cause extended outages, so sites should plan backup feeds or on-site generation.
  2. An outage during high temperatures requires prompt heat safety guidance for personnel and families on site.
  3. Coordination with external grid crews is needed when a base substation loses supply, so joint response plans should be in place.

More lessons on outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Technical cause of the fire
  • Total restoration time
  • Which organisation operates the substation
  • Age and model of the transformer

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

Source

stripes.com

Published 2026-09-08. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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