Energy Incident Register
Register / Grid infrastructure / EIR-0849
← Back to the list
Grid infrastructureUnited KingdomEIR-0849

Fire at Leicester substation cuts power to 45,000 properties

Mar 2017Published 15 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisional
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
Where
high voltage electrical substation on Ravensbridge Drive in Leicester
What
fire broke out at about 10:45 GMT
Response
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service attended
Cause
Not reported
Outcome
power lost to 45,000 properties

What happened

A fire broke out at a high voltage electrical substation on Ravensbridge Drive in Leicester at about 10:45 GMT. Power was lost to 45,000 properties in the LE3, LE4 and LE7 areas and nearby places including Groby, Glenfield and Birstall. Businesses were evacuated and roads were closed. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service attended, the site was later dampened down, and about 8,800 litres of oil had to be allowed to burn off. Police said power had been restored and most road closures had been lifted. No cause was reported.

Contributing factors

The cause of the fire was not reported.

Lessons learned

  1. A fire at a high voltage substation can cut power to tens of thousands of properties, so operators should plan restoration across wide areas.
  2. Where insulating oil is involved, the fire service may have to let a large volume burn off under control before dampening down.
  3. Operators should plan coordination with fire service, police and local authorities when a substation fire affects businesses and roads.

More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the fire
  • Equipment model and age
  • Cost of the damage
  • Exact duration of the power loss

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

Source

BBC News (bbc.co.uk)

Published 2026-09-15. 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: 119 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.