Suspected animal contact starts fire at a Celina solar field substation
EIR-1208Provisional entry. A short local report confirms a fire at a Celina solar field substation, a very short city-wide power cut and a response of about an hour and a half; the animal-contact cause is only described as thought to be the case, and cost, injuries and the operator were not reported. Next update: 24 September 2026.
On the morning of 9 May 2019, a fire was reported at a solar field substation west of Celina, on Meyer Road near State Route 29. A local report said an animal had entered the substation around 6:30 am and was thought to have started the fire by contacting the transformer. The incident caused a very short city-wide power cut and a brief disturbance on the DP&L system that feeds Celina. Celina Utilities and the local fire department were on scene for about an hour and a half. Damage was described as substantial; no financial cost was reported.
The only reported factor is suspected animal intrusion and contact with the transformer. How the animal entered, and whether that contact is confirmed, was not reported.
- Solar field substations need barriers and covers that keep animals off live equipment.
- A suspected animal contact should be recorded as suspected until the equipment and the scene have been checked.
- Even a short outage should be logged with the extent of damage, because cost and the failed item may not be known at first.
Published 2026-09-24. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.