Transformer fire at Spartan substation cuts power near Kempton Park airport

What happened

On the morning of 12 January 2020, transformers caught fire at a substation on Plane Road in Spartan, Kempton Park, at the Len Futcher building, described in reporting as the electricity department building and also referred to as an Eskom substation. The substation supplies the City's 66kV and 132kV networks. Emergency services attended the scene and nearby roads were closed, with residents advised to stay clear. The fire caused power outages affecting OR Tambo International Airport, Isando, Spartan, Kempton Park central business district, Aston Manor and Bonaero Park.

According to the City of Ekurhuleni, the cause of the fire could only be determined once it was safe to investigate. Power was reported restored later the same afternoon by the city's executive mayor. No information on injuries or the eventual cause was given in the initial reporting.

Contributing factors

Not reported at the time of the article; the City of Ekurhuleni stated the cause would only be established once the site was safe to investigate.

Lessons learned

1. Transformer fire at a substation can cut supply from 66kV and 132kV networks to an airport, so operators should review redundancy for critical loads.
2. Emergency services must close nearby roads and advise residents to stay clear when high voltage equipment burns.
3. Public updates on restoration can be issued before the cause is known, reducing impact on businesses and residents.

More lessons on outages, backup supply and restoration, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

• Exact cause of the 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

citizen.co.za