Lightning strike sparks fire at Sistrunk substation, Fort Lauderdale
EIR-0697Provisional entry. Published from first reports. This entry is rechecked automatically and updated when more sources appear. Next update: 16 September 2026.
A lightning strike caused a large fire at an FPL substation in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the night of Tuesday 26 March 2019, according to local reporting. A witness described loud explosions, intense flames and radiant heat close enough to force a vehicle to reverse away. The fire led to a power outage in an area around Northwest 6th Street, according to Fort Lauderdale Police. Local broadcaster WSVN reported that the outage at the Sistrunk substation affected more than 22,000 customers. Power was reported restored by around 4 a.m. Casualties, the extent of equipment damage and the fire service response were not reported in the available source.
A lightning strike was reported as the cause of the fire at the substation. No formal investigation findings have been reported.
- Substations remain exposed to lightning-induced faults, so surge arrestors and earthing systems merit regular inspection and testing.
- A single substation fault can remove supply from tens of thousands of customers, which makes switching and back-feed plans valuable for restoration within hours.
- Visible flames and audible explosions at substations close to roads and housing draw public attention, so early public information reduces community concern.
Published 2026-09-14. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.