Explosion and fire at substation leads to home evacuations in Ripley
Nov 2022Published 29 Sept 2026
Companies named in this entry: Western Power
What happened
An explosion and fire occurred at an electricity substation at the top of Hill Street, off Butterley Hill, in Ripley. Witnesses reported a bright flash. Derbyshire Police, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue, and Western Power were called at about 05:00 GMT. A cordon was put in place. A small number of homes nearby were evacuated and people living nearby were advised to keep windows and doors closed. Firefighters put down sand banks to stop contamination of oil. Police gave the all-clear at about 13:00 GMT. The cause was not reported.
Contributing factors
The cause was not reported.
Lessons learned
- After a substation fire, check for oil release and use bunding or absorbent barriers before runoff can leave the site.
- Evacuate only the immediate area and lift the cordon once the scene is safe, and record the times.
- Keep a public note of what is not yet known, including cause and whether supply was affected.
Source
Published 2026-09-29. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.