Blown transformer sparks power pole fire in Winter Park

What happened

A power pole caught fire in a parking lot in Winter Park, Florida, near the intersection of Lee Road and North Orlando Avenue. Officials said a blown transformer sparked the fire. The incident caused a power outage in the area, and Winter Park Utilities said that as of 8:35 p.m. the power was still out. The report does not say how many customers or businesses were affected, whether anyone was injured, or why the transformer failed.

Contributing factors

Officials said a blown transformer sparked the fire. The source does not say why the transformer failed.

Lessons learned

1. A failed pole-mounted transformer can ignite the pole and interrupt local supply.
2. Operators should confirm the outage footprint quickly, because early reports may not say how many customers are affected.
3. Nearby premises should not be treated as affected until the utility confirms who lost power.

Source

mynews13.com