Transformer fire at Posey Power Substation expected to burn for weeks
Oct 2024Published 29 Sept 2026
Companies named in this entry: Lubbock Power and Light
What happened
On the evening of 23 October 2024, a transformer fire was reported at the Posey Power Substation, southeast of Lubbock, Texas. The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office said fire crews were called to the 5400 block of East FM 1585 at about 8:40 p.m., and that the office responded with the Woodrow and Slaton volunteer fire departments. Lubbock Power and Light said its crews, the Lubbock Fire Department and Slaton Fire Rescue also responded and that the fire was contained.
The operator said the fire would be monitored around the clock and allowed to subside once the fuel was exhausted, a process the sheriff’s office expected to take about 40 days. Lubbock Power and Light said there were no injuries, outages or disruptions to the electrical system, and that ERCOT and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had been notified.
Contributing factors
No specific cause had been identified. Lubbock Power and Light said it believed the fire was caused by equipment failure and that it would work with officials on the root cause.
Lessons learned
- After a large transformer fire is contained, a monitored burn-down can be used to limit risk to the surrounding area.
- Early notice to the grid operator and the environmental regulator supports a coordinated plan.
- Network redundancy can keep customer supply stable if one substation is lost.
Source
Published 2026-09-29. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.