Transformer fire at Ocoee substation after case cut open with abrasive saw

What happened

On Wednesday 11 December 2019 the West Polk County Volunteer Fire and Rescue spent the day fighting a fire at the Ocoee substation in Polk County. Firefighters said the fire was stubborn to put out because of the transformer's design. They said someone had used an abrasive saw to try to cut open the metal transformer case to get at the copper inside, which was being recovered before removal. Before attacking the fire, firefighters confirmed that the transformers did not contain PCB oil and that there were no high energy connections.

They used about 15 gallons of foam and added a ladder to reach and open the top of the transformer case. No injuries were reported.

Contributing factors

Firefighters said an abrasive saw had been used to cut into the metal transformer case to reach the copper inside. The transformer's design made the fire hard to reach and put out.

Lessons learned

1. Before attacking a transformer fire, crews should confirm isolation from high energy sources and check for PCB oil, as was done here.
2. Firefighting plans for enclosed transformer designs should include a way to open or reach the inside of the case.

Source

newschannel9.com