Grass fire at Smithfield power substation, Utah
July 2017Published 6 Oct 2026
Companies named in this entry: Rocky Mountain Power
What happened
On the morning of 3 July 2017 a grass fire burned about half an acre at the Rocky Mountain Power substation near 780 North Main Street in Smithfield, Utah. The fire started at the substation and spread south, coming within about 20 feet of boats behind a nearby auto and marine business and about 100 yards of townhomes. Smithfield Fire Chief reported roughly 25 firefighters responded and extinguished the fire while protecting the substation and nearby property. Rocky Mountain Power staff attended to investigate the electrical fault.
Contributing factors
A blown transformer was reported as the suspected cause. Dry vegetation allowed rapid spread.
Lessons learned
- Dry grass around substations can allow a small electrical fault to become a vegetation fire that threatens nearby property, so vegetation inside and around substation fences should be kept short in summer.
- Quick response limits spread, so utilities should ensure local fire crews know substation locations and access routes.
Source
Published 2026-10-06. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.