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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-1573

Transformer fire at Posey Power Substation expected to burn for about 40 days

Oct 2024Published 29 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

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Lubbock Power and Light

What happened

Fire crews were called on the evening of 23 October 2024 to a transformer fire at the Lubbock Power and Light Posey Power Substation, in the 5400 block of East FM 1585, southeast of Lubbock, Texas. The Lubbock County Sheriff's Office said the Woodrow and Slaton Volunteer Fire Departments responded. Lubbock Power and Light said its crews, the Lubbock Fire Department and Slaton Fire Rescue also responded and that the fire was contained.

The sheriff's office said the fire was expected to burn for approximately 40 days and would be monitored around the clock by Lubbock Power and Light personnel. The utility said the incident was isolated, with no injuries, customer outages or disruption to the electrical system, and that it had notified the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. No specific cause had been identified. Lubbock Power and Light said it believed the fire was caused by equipment failure.

Contributing factors

No specific cause had been identified. Lubbock Power and Light said it believed the fire was caused by equipment failure.

Lessons learned

  1. A large transformer fire may need a long monitored burn-out if putting it out at once could harm the surrounding area.
  2. Redundancy can keep supply stable if one substation is lost.
  3. Early notice to reliability and environmental bodies helps others follow an agreed plan.

More lessons on detection and monitoring, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.

Source

everythinglubbock.com

Published 2026-09-29. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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