Fire at electrical substation transformer in Grantham, Lincolnshire
Mar 2016Published 20 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
A fire broke out at about 5.20pm on 22 March 2016 in the electrical transformer part of a substation in Grantham, Lincolnshire, according to the Daily Star. Homes nearby were evacuated as a precaution. About 13,310 properties were initially affected by a power cut, and engineers hoped to restore full power by 10pm. Several rail services were delayed. Rail officials said the blaze was understood to involve gas cylinders. Thick black smoke was visible from Grantham station and from approaching trains. The report does not state the cause of the fire, the operator of the substation, or whether anyone was injured.
Contributing factors
Not reported in the source.
Lessons learned
- Operators of substations should keep evacuation and emergency plans for nearby homes, businesses and transport, since a transformer fire can affect a wide area.
- Stored gas cylinders or other flammable materials near electrical plant should be assessed for their fire risk and kept clear of transformer areas.
- Operators should publish clear restoration timelines and customer updates when a fault removes power from thousands of properties.
More lessons on emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.
Source
Other entries that name Lincolnshire
Published 2026-10-20. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
