Transformer explosion causes outage in Normal Heights
EIR-1282Provisional entry. Published from first reports. This entry is rechecked automatically and updated when more sources appear. Next update: 26 September 2026.
A power transformer exploded in the Normal Heights area of San Diego on 3 December 2019, sparking a small fire in the 330 block of El Cajon Boulevard. San Diego Fire-Rescue said the flames did not spread to nearby buildings. According to the SDG&E outage map, nearly 7,500 customers in University Heights, North Park, Normal Heights, Kensington, Talmadge and City Heights were without power from just after 5:30 p.m. Crews were assessing the cause. A 6:50 p.m. update said power had been restored to the affected Mid City areas. An earlier map estimate had put restoration at 8:30 p.m.
The cause was not reported. At the time of the original report, SDG&E crews were still assessing what caused the outage.
- A single transformer failure can cut power across several neighbouring districts at once, so outage maps should be checked against reports from the scene.
- Estimated restoration times should be labelled as estimates until crews confirm that power is back.
- Even a small transformer fire needs a check that flames have not spread to nearby buildings.
Published 2026-09-25. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.