Explosion and fire at Burbank Water and Power substation near Empire Center
Apr 2020Published 19 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- Substation near Empire Center and 5 Freeway, Burbank, California
- Operator
- Burbank Water and Power
- What
- Powerful explosion and contained fire at substation
- Injuries
- None reported
- Cause
- Not reported
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Burbank Water and Power
What happened
A powerful explosion occurred at a Burbank Water and Power substation near the Empire Center and the 5 Freeway in Burbank, California. The blast sent a fireball and thick column of smoke over the surrounding neighbourhood and was strong enough to be felt in the area. Firefighters responded and extinguished a fire that was contained within the substation fencing. Brief power outages affected nearby homes and businesses as a result of the incident. No other structures were reported to be threatened, and there were no immediate reports of injuries. The cause of the explosion was not known at the time of reporting.
Contributing factors
Not reported.
Lessons learned
- Substation explosions can send a fireball and smoke plume beyond the site even when contained inside fencing, so operators should review public notification plans.
- Brief power outages can follow a substation explosion, so nearby customers need contingency supplies or rapid restoration plans.
- Fire contained within substation fencing still requires immediate investigation to prevent repeat electrical failures at similar sites.
More lessons on theft, arson and site security, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Exact cause of the explosion
- Equipment model and age
- Duration of power outages
- Cost of repairs
This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.
Source
Other entries that name Burbank
Published 2026-09-19. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
