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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-0882

Substation fire cuts power to thousands in Eustis, Florida

July 2024Published 16 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectrical
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Substation near County Road 44 and Apiary Road, Grand Island, Eustis, Florida
Operator
Duke Energy
What
Fire broke out around 6:45 pm on Sunday evening
Cause
Not determined
Outcome
Power restored to all customers by 5 am next morning

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Duke Energy

What happened

A fire broke out at a Duke Energy electrical substation near County Road 44 and Apiary Road in the Grand Island area of Eustis, Florida, on a Sunday evening. The fire ignited around 6:45 pm, producing large flames and thick black smoke visible from nearby neighbourhoods. County Road 44 was shut down in the area as crews responded. The blaze knocked out power to thousands of customers, with Duke Energy reporting between 7,600 and 9,700 customers affected at various points.

Fire rescue and other first responders attended the scene. Duke Energy restored power to all affected homes by 5 am the following morning after repair crews worked through the night. The Lake County Sheriff's Office suggested the fire may have been caused by lightning, though Duke Energy stated the cause had not been determined at the time of reporting.

Contributing factors

Local law enforcement suggested lightning may have sparked the fire, though the utility said the cause was not confirmed.

Lessons learned

  1. A substation fire can affect thousands of customers, so operators should check rapid response repair plans and pre arranged restoration steps.
  2. Suggested lightning strike at a substation shows the need to review surge protection in storm prone areas.

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

Not yet known

  • Confirmed cause of the fire
  • Equipment model and age
  • Cost of the damage

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

Source

clickorlando.com

Published 2026-09-16. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: lightning strikes on energy assets.

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