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Grid infrastructureSouth AfricaEIR-1212

Fire damages substation and cuts power in Eldorado Park

Oct 2018Published 24 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fire
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Transformer substation serving Eldorado Park, Johannesburg
Operator
City Power
What
Fire completely damaged the substation
Cause
Under investigation
Outcome
Substation being demolished; power off until replacement installed

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

What happened

Heavy rain fell in Johannesburg on Saturday after a fire broke out on Friday night at a transformer substation serving Eldorado Park. The fire completely damaged the substation, which is now being demolished. Technicians began preparatory work to install a replacement 500kVA mini-substation. Power remained off to Eldorado Park Extension 7 and surrounding areas, including streets such as Wisconsin, Vermont, Ohio, Texas and Nebraska, until repairs could be finished. City Power stated that work was expected to restore supply by late that evening.

Contributing factors

Preliminary information indicated that homeless squatters may have started a fire inside the substation to keep warm, or that the fire may have resulted from attempted theft of infrastructure. Both possibilities were under investigation.

Lessons learned

  1. A transformer substation fire from internal trespass can destroy the asset, so operators should fit perimeter barriers and intrusion detection.
  2. Theft attempts can ignite fires in live substations, so owners should secure cable and equipment against removal.
  3. A fully damaged substation requires rapid mini-substation replacement, so plans must include pre-stocked units and technician access.

More lessons on theft, arson and site security, maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact cause of the fire
  • Model and age of the damaged transformer
  • Duration of the power outage
  • Cost of the damage and repairs

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

Source

dailydispatch.co.za

Other entries that name Eldorado

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

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Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents in South Africa, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

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