Power line and transformer fire disrupts supply in Philadelphia

What happened

A power line caught fire on a Wednesday night in Center City, Philadelphia, and crews were working to put out a fire on the power lines and a transformer at 12th and Lombard streets at around 10 p.m. PECO said around 1,259 customers in the area were affected. Power appeared to have been restored in Center City by midnight. How the fire started was not reported.

Contributing factors

The cause was not reported.

Lessons learned

1. A fire on a power line or transformer can cut local supply even when the affected area is small.
2. Customer counts and restoration times should be treated as provisional until the operator confirms them.
3. The cause should be recorded once it is known, because an early report does not establish how the fire started.

Source

nbcphiladelphia.com