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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-1279

Fire at SMUD substation disrupts downtown Sacramento power

Dec 2021Published 25 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisional
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
SMUD’s Station A at 6th and H streets in Sacramento
Operator
SMUD
What
Fire damaged outdoor equipment and cut power to 1,300 customers
Cause
Under investigation
Outcome
Power restored to 750 customers on Wednesday and 550 by 7:25 a.m. on Friday

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

What happened

A fire broke out at 11:47 a.m. on Tuesday 14 December 2021 at SMUD’s Station A at 6th and H streets in Sacramento. The fire affected outdoor equipment and knocked out power to 1,300 customers. Thick black smoke was seen, and a camera showed an explosion before crews responded. One of three networks from the station suffered significant damage, and the other two were de-energised for safety. Those two were re-energised on Wednesday, restoring power to more than 750 customers.

Power to the remaining 550 customers was restored by 7:25 a.m. on Friday 17 December. Traffic lights and businesses were affected, and some residents left their homes for hotels. SMUD said the historic brick building at the site was not affected.

Contributing factors

SMUD said the cause was still under investigation and that it would cooperate with inquiries from the California Utilities Commission, although it is not under that commission’s jurisdiction. A 2015 SMUD report said the outdoor equipment was nearing the end of its useful life and needed replacement. SMUD later said planned replacement does not mean the equipment was unsafe or broken. No cause has been reported.

Lessons learned

  1. Keep contingency plans for re-energising undamaged networks after a substation fire, while damaged equipment stays isolated.
  2. Tell affected customers and local authorities what is known about restoration, and update that estimate if it changes.
  3. Do not treat a planned asset replacement, by itself, as the cause of a fire until an investigation reports its findings.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, outages, backup supply and restoration, maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the fire
  • Equipment model and age
  • Cost of the damage
  • Exact duration of full supply restoration

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

Source

kcra.com

Other entries that name Sacramento

Published 2026-09-25. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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