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Grid infrastructureUnited KingdomEIR-1176

Electricity substation fire closes road in Oxted

Sept 2026Published 22 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorThermal / fireProvisional
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
Where
electricity substation on Caterfield Road in Oxted
What
fire at electricity substation
Response
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service sent two engines
Cause
Not reported
Outcome
Caterfield Lane closed for emergency repairs; railway affected

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Southern, UK Power Networks

What happened

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service was called at 4.30pm on 21 September 2026 to a fire at an electricity substation on Caterfield Road in Oxted. Two fire engines attended. Caterfield Lane was closed in both directions between Red Lane and Park Road. The service said black smoke could be seen from a distance and advised people who needed to to close windows and doors. It also said the fire had had some impact on the railway and advised people to check journeys.

Crews were still at the scene at 11pm. By 8.10am on 22 September they had left and handed the incident to UK Power Networks and Southern Rail. Caterfield Lane remained closed that morning for emergency repairs, according to AA Traffic News. The cause of the fire has not been reported.

Lessons learned

  1. After a substation fire, hand the site promptly to the network operator so that emergency repairs can start without delay.
  2. Visible smoke from a substation fire can affect rail services, so operators must warn passengers and advise them to check journeys.
  3. Road closures near a substation fire must be maintained until repairs finish, as emergency work can extend into the next day.

More lessons on emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Equipment model and age
  • Duration of power outage
  • Cost of repairs

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

Source

msn.com

Published 2026-09-22. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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