Transformer fire closes Interstate 495 in Westford
June 2018Published 25 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- Interstate 495 in Westford, Massachusetts
- What
- Transformer fire closed northbound and southbound lanes
- Injuries
- None reported
- Response
- Westford Fire Department and National Grid responding
- Cause
- Not reported
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): National Grid
What happened
On 19 June 2018, state police said a transformer fire spreading to electrical wire had closed the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 495 in Westford, Massachusetts. The Westford Fire Department and National Grid were responding. No injuries were reported. Drivers were told to use other routes because of closures and traffic. Fire crews were to decide whether poles and wires needed replacing. The cause was not reported.
Contributing factors
The cause of the fire was not reported.
Lessons learned
- A transformer fire beside a highway can close both directions and create traffic risk beyond the electrical fault.
- Grid and highway teams need a shared plan for isolating supply, checking poles and wires, and reopening the road.
- Early advice on other routes limits secondary risk while the cause and the extent of damage are still unknown.
More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Cause of the fire
- Whether poles and wires needed replacing
- Duration of the road closure
This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.
Source
Published 2026-09-25. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
