Substation fire reported to have lit up skies across Cincinnati
Jan 2023Published 28 Sept 2026
Estimated damage ModelledFigure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidencesupply cut for •• daysSee the figure: 14 days freeFull estimateHow? Know the real figure?
What happened
A local news headline dated 29 January 2023 reported a substation fire that lit up the skies across Cincinnati. The headline included a description of the fire as looking like a nuclear event. The available source is that headline only. Cause, damage, injuries and any effect on electricity supply were not reported.
Contributing factors
Not reported.
Lessons learned
- Treat a headline-only report of a substation fire as incomplete until the operator or fire service states what burned and whether supply was affected.
- Bright light from a substation fire can alarm the public, so operators should be ready to say quickly whether the site is safe and whether power is at risk.
- Do not infer cause, damage or injuries from illumination alone.
Source
Published 2026-09-28. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.