Transformer fire in Arsuz, Hatay, Turkey, attended by fire crews

What happened

A transformer caught fire in the Konacık neighbourhood of Arsuz, Hatay, in Turkey, near village houses. The cause of the fire has not been determined. People who noticed smoke rising from the transformer alerted the authorities, and Hatay Metropolitan Municipality fire crews were dispatched to the area. The crews reached the scene quickly and began work to stop the flames spreading to the surrounding area, using pressurised water hoses to tackle the fire. At the time of reporting, no official statement had been issued on the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage to the transformer. The report does not describe injuries, evacuations or power outages.

Lessons learned

1. Transformers located close to homes and village houses need defined clearance distances, regular inspection and fire-risk assessment so that a fault does not threaten nearby properties.
2. Operators should ensure that smoke or fire reports from the public are passed to the asset owner quickly, so that the supply can be isolated and the unit made safe.
3. Fire services attending grid transformer fires should be informed of the asset owner and the isolation status to reduce the risk to crews and the surrounding area.

More lessons on spacing, layout and fire spread, electrical protection and isolation, fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.

Source

sondakikahatay.com