Animal-caused fire at Anderson Township substation cuts power to thousands
EIR-0782A fire broke out inside the Anderson Township substation, operated and owned by Duke Energy, at the intersection of Beechmont Avenue and Markley Road in Anderson Township, Ohio, at around 7:30pm on 31 January 2023. The fire produced bright flashing lights visible for miles, including from Cincinnati and as far north as Mason. Duke Energy attributed the incident to animal damage. Anderson Township firefighters responded and said the area was unsafe to be near, and the public was asked to stay clear. More than 2,000 customers lost power, with one report referring to about 2,300 customers affected. Power was restored to affected residents and businesses a short time later, according to Duke Energy's outage map.
Animal damage to substation equipment, as stated by Duke Energy.
- Substations remain vulnerable to wildlife intrusion, which can cause arcing and fire, so animal guards and barriers on exposed conductors and bushings warrant regular inspection.
- Prompt outage mapping and public communication helps manage alarm when a fault produces lighting and noise visible across a wide area.
- Clear coordination between the utility and local fire services is needed so that responders can establish a safe cordon at an energised substation.
Published 2026-09-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.