Fire affecting a Fordsburg substation cable leaves parts of Johannesburg without power

What happened

On 1 May 2024, a fire left parts of Johannesburg without power and forced some roads to close, including the M1 in central Johannesburg. Reporting described a blaze linked to the Fordsburg substation and said underground cables had caught fire. City Power said it was on site and that preliminary findings indicated the fire had affected the cable from the Fordsburg substation to the Braamfontein substation. Emergency services reported an underground fire and said no injuries had been reported. The precise point of origin had not been established.

Contributing factors

It was reported that the fire was believed to have been caused by cable theft. Emergency services said the cause remained subject to investigation, so theft has not been established.

Lessons learned

1. A fault on a cable between substations can cut supply over a wide area and disrupt roads above the route, so operators should be ready to isolate the feeder and restore supply by other circuits.
2. Suspected cable theft should stay marked as unconfirmed until investigators finish their work, and the scene should be preserved.
3. Utilities and emergency services should share early notice when an underground cable fire is under a major road, so traffic can be diverted safely.

Source

enca.com