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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-1023

Transformer fire at Hawaii utility substation cuts power to thousands

Apr 2018Published 17 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fire
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
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
HECO substation on Kalele Road near University of Hawaii Manoa
Operator
Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO)
What
Transformer fire after loud explosion
Injuries
None reported
Cause
Not reported

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Hawaiian Electric, HECO

What happened

A fire broke out at a Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) substation on Kalele Road near the University of Hawaii at Manoa's lower campus, adjacent to Les Murakami Stadium. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion before thick black smoke, visible for miles, rose from the site. The Honolulu Fire Department responded with eight units and 31 personnel and, working with HECO crews, determined the affected transformer held up to 3,000 gallons of oil.

Firefighters obtained class-B foam from state Department of Transportation aircraft rescue firefighting units and used it to help the fire burn itself out, containing the blaze to one of two side-by-side transformers and preventing it spreading to nearby structures. More than 3,300 customers across several Honolulu neighbourhoods lost power. Supply was restored to most areas within about two hours, though parts of the university campus, including student housing, remained without power overnight. No injuries were reported.

Contributing factors

A loud explosion was reported by witnesses immediately before the fire, but the cause of the explosion or fire was not stated in the source.

Lessons learned

  1. Oil-filled transformers can hold up to 3000 gallons, so operators must stock or quickly source class-B foam for suppression.
  2. Side-by-side transformers need physical separation to stop fire spreading from one unit to the next.
  3. Substations near universities need pre-planned backup power for student housing after an overnight outage.

More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, spacing, layout and fire spread, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the explosion and fire
  • Transformer model and age
  • Cost of damage and repairs

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

Source

staradvertiser.com

Published 2026-09-17. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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