Primary transformer fire at Gwallon Lane substation, Marazion, cuts power in west Cornwall

What happened

On 16 October 2017 the primary transformer at the Gwallon Lane electricity substation in Marazion, Cornwall, England, developed a fault and caught fire. Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service sent two appliances from Penzance and one each from St Just and Hayle at 10.10am, and a foam unit from Newquay was later mobilised. Firefighters stopped the fire spreading but had to wait for Western Power Distribution engineers to isolate the supply before it could be put out.

Roads nearby were closed with police help because of the volume of smoke. A small fire was still burning in the substation overnight, with crews in attendance, and the fire service left the site on the morning of 17 October. Western Power Distribution said more than 1,000 homes in west Cornwall had reduced electricity supply and estimated that in the worst case more than 3,000 homes were affected in total.

Contributing factors

Western Power Distribution said the primary transformer developed a fault and caught fire. The nature of the fault was not reported. The fire could not be extinguished until the supply was isolated.

Lessons learned

1. Plan how a primary transformer will be isolated quickly when it is on fire, since firefighters cannot attack the fire until the supply is made dead.
2. Hold foam stocks or agree foam support with the fire service for oil-filled transformer fires that can burn for many hours.
3. Prepare smoke and road closure plans with the police for substations near roads and homes.

Source

cornwalllive.com