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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-2592

Fire at Hawaiian Electric substation in Keaau, Hawaii

Jan 2024Published 27 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisionalNext update 27 Oct
Reported damageFrom the sourceHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersReported figure
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Hawaiian Electric

What happened

A fire broke out on the evening of Monday 29 January 2024 at a Hawaiian Electric substation in Shipman Industrial Park, Keaau, on Hawaii Island. The Hawaii County Fire Department said firefighters were called at about 5.45pm and found a 40-foot container alight. Witnesses reported a loud boom as flames raged. Firefighters could not extinguish the fire immediately because of the high voltage in the area and had to wait for Hawaiian Electric personnel to disconnect power.

Large amounts of flammable liquid were leaking from the structure, which hindered access for direct fire suppression. The fire was extinguished at about 8.30pm and no injuries were reported. The equipment damaged included the 40-foot container on a rolling chassis with 20 feet of sound suppression add-ons, a housed electric generator, power transformers and a 1,000-gallon diesel tank. Damage was estimated at approximately 1.5 million US dollars.

Contributing factors

The Hawaii County Fire Department said a possible mechanical malfunction had been determined as the cause. This is a provisional finding. Flammable liquids leaking from the structure hindered direct fire suppression. High voltage in the area meant firefighters could not act until power was disconnected.

Lessons learned

  1. Operators of energised sites should agree isolation procedures with fire services so that power can be disconnected quickly on arrival.
  2. Give fire services up-to-date site plans showing isolation points, fuel tank locations and hazards.
  3. Provide secondary containment for diesel and other flammable liquids, sized for the largest tank, to limit spread and reduce obstruction of firefighting access.
  4. Investigate mechanical faults in generator and transformer equipment promptly and share findings with other operators.

More lessons on worker safety and safe systems of work, fire suppression and firefighting, investigation and fleet-wide checks, from every incident on the register.

Source

hawaiinewsnow.com

Published 2026-10-27. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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