TNB substation fire next to church in Kepong
June 2024Published 29 Sept 2026
What happened
A Tenaga Nasional substation next to the Jesus Caritas Catholic Church in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, caught fire on 9 June 2024. The church itself was not affected and no one was injured. An emergency call was received at 7.14pm. Firefighters found the fire spreading rapidly but could not directly extinguish it because of live electrical currents. They extinguished the fire at 9.21pm using two foam tanks. The substation supplied the church and other parts of the Jalan Kepong Baru area. Power was being restored in phases, with full restoration expected by midnight. The cause is under investigation. The church suspended daily masses until further notice.
Lessons learned
- Fire services need appropriate non-conductive suppression media, such as foam, where a substation remains live.
- Operators should keep clear procedures for isolating or working around energised equipment during a fire.
- Nearby facilities should have contingency plans for loss of supply during a substation fire.
Source
Published 2026-09-29. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.