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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-1200

Transformer fire at Georgia Power plant in Cobb County

2020Published 24 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectrical
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
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supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
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Where
Plant McDonough switchyard, Cobb County, United States
Operator
Georgia Power
What
Transformer fire led to explosions
Injuries
None reported
Cause
Under investigation

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Georgia Power

What happened

A transformer fire occurred in the switchyard at Plant McDonough, operated by Georgia Power, in Cobb County, United States. The fire led to explosions and reports of shaking felt in the surrounding neighbourhood. Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services responded to the two-alarm fire, with hazmat crews also attending. The fire was contained within the switchyard and extinguished with no injuries reported. Neighbours observed flames, smoke and embers, and some chose to evacuate. The power delivery system operated as designed, with no extended customer outages. The cause is under investigation and is believed to be equipment failure related to the transformer.

Contributing factors

Equipment failure related to the transformer.

Lessons learned

  1. A transformer fire in a switchyard can produce explosions felt in the neighbourhood, so operators must coordinate quickly with local fire services and hazmat teams.
  2. Protection systems that isolate a switchyard fault prevent wider outages, so operators should verify these systems work as designed.

More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Specific cause of the transformer failure
  • Transformer model and age
  • Duration of the fire response
  • Cost of repairs and downtime

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

Source

wsbtv.com

Other entries that name Cobb

Published 2026-09-24. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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