Transformer failure sparks large fire at AEP Ohio substation

A transformer failed at an AEP Ohio substation in the 3800 block of Bixby Road, Groveport, Ohio, triggering a large fire that began around 8.30pm on the Thursday night and was still burning the following morning. The utility said as much as 30,000 gallons of underground oil was fuelling the flames. Firefighters responded but decided to let the fire burn, because water risked spreading the oil and creating further problems. AEP Ohio said customers were not affected by the fire. The cause of the transformer failure was not immediately known. Utility workers remained at the substation. A company spokesperson said a similar fire several years earlier had lasted a few days, and it was not clear how long this fire would burn.

A large volume of underground oil, reported as up to 30,000 gallons, fuelled and prolonged the fire. The presence of oil meant conventional water firefighting was avoided because of the risk of spreading burning oil. The underlying cause of the transformer failure was not reported.

1. Large volumes of insulating oil can sustain a substation fire for a long period, so response plans should anticipate a controlled burn rather than rapid extinguishment.
2. Water applied to an oil-fed fire can spread burning fuel, so pre-agreed containment and bunding strategies matter more than suppression volume.
3. Records of previous similar events at the same utility help fire crews and operators set realistic expectations for burn duration and site isolation.

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