Fire at SMUD substation disrupts downtown Sacramento power

A fire broke out at SMUD’s Station A at 6th and H streets in Sacramento at 11:47 a.m. on Tuesday. The incident damaged outdoor equipment at the substation and caused a power outage affecting 1,300 customers in the surrounding area. One of the three networks supplied from Station A sustained significant damage while the other two were de-energised as a precaution. Power was restored to more than 750 customers on Wednesday and to the remaining 550 customers by 7:25 a.m. on Friday. An explosion was visible and a plume of black smoke was seen above the downtown area. The fire did not affect the adjacent historic brick building. Some residents were temporarily displaced and local businesses were disrupted. SMUD stated that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The cause has not been reported. SMUD said the fire was still under investigation.

1. A fault on one downtown network can require the remaining networks from the same station to be de-energised, so restoration plans should assume partial isolation and staged return to service.
2. Keep customers informed of which blocks remain off supply while crews work around the clock on the damaged network.
3. Do not treat planned equipment replacement, or regulator inquiries, as a finding of cause until the investigation is complete.

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