Explosion and fire at Burbank Water and Power substation reported to have caused power surge

An explosion was reported around noon at a power substation at Burbank Water and Power in Burbank, California, near the 5 Freeway. The blast sent heavy smoke and a large fireball into the sky, rocked the surrounding area and caused a power surge. Firefighters were seen knocking down the blaze at about 12.40pm. Police closed Pacific and Monterey avenues between Brighton and Myers streets, and access to some residential streets off Victory Boulevard was limited or closed, with roads later reopened. Nearby structures did not appear to be threatened. Police said some nearby areas may have experienced disruption to power after the surge. No injuries were reported. The cause remained under investigation at the time of reporting.

Not reported.

1. Substation faults can produce power surges that affect supply beyond the site boundary, so operators should have rapid isolation and surge mitigation arrangements in place.
2. Precautionary road closures around an affected substation protect the public while fire crews and investigators assess the scene.
3. Prompt fire service response can contain substation fires quickly and limit the risk of spread to neighbouring structures.

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