Fire damages electricity substation and disrupts supply in Summerstrand

What happened

An out-of-control fire near Caulfield Crescent in Summerstrand, Gqeberha, damaged an electricity substation and disrupted supply in the area. The fire spread rapidly. Residents used garden hoses and basic equipment while emergency services responded. The fire at the substation was later extinguished, although surrounding fire activity continued. Engineers from the electricity department were to assess the damage once it was safe to enter. Boreholes could not be used during the incident, which affected access to water.

Firefighters, neighbourhood watch members, traffic officials, metro police and ward committee representatives took part in the response, including road closures and monitoring of hot spots. One resident later reported that electricity had been restored in their home. The extent of restoration across the area was not reported.

Contributing factors

The source reports that an out-of-control fire near the substation spread rapidly. It does not state how the fire started or why it reached the substation.

Lessons learned

1. An external fire near a substation can interrupt supply even when the fire does not start in the equipment.
2. Loss of power to boreholes during a fire can reduce the water available to residents and responders.
3. Treat restoration reports from individual customers as partial until the operator confirms the wider supply and the equipment has been assessed.

Source

novanews.co.za