Transformer fire in Brighton cuts power to more than 1,200 homes or businesses
2026Published 1 Oct 2026
Companies named in this entry: RG&E
What happened
A transformer caught fire in Brighton, New York, on a Wednesday morning in 2026. At one point more than 1,200 homes or businesses, mostly in Brighton, were without power, and hundreds of RG&E customers were reported to have lost supply. News crews saw utility crews making repairs on French Road around 5:30 a.m.; the scene later cleared and the road reopened. The Brighton Fire Department confirmed that crews were working to repair a transformer. RG&E said the cause of the fire was under investigation. Its outage tracker later showed no remaining outages.
Contributing factors
The cause of the fire was not reported. RG&E said it was under investigation.
Lessons learned
- A single transformer fire on a distribution circuit can interrupt supply to a large number of homes and businesses.
- Clear public updates on road access, repairs and restoration help customers judge when supply has returned.
- Where the cause is still under investigation, operators should say so rather than imply a finding.
Source
Published 2026-10-01. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.