Decommissioned substation transformer accidentally ignited during contractor deconstruction in Loveland

What happened

Loveland Fire Rescue Authority responded on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 March 2021 to a fire at the Horseshoe Substation in north Loveland. The decommissioned transformer had been drained of its vegetable oil, which is used to keep the unit cool, and moved away from the active, electrified part of the station, which was replacing it. Workers from an outside contractor were deconstructing the transformer with a hand-held acetylene torch when the paper insulation around the copper coils, which still had oil soaked into it, was accidentally ignited.

The call came in at 3:29 pm. Crews reported the fire contained and not spreading by 3:50 pm. At 5 pm crews were still extinguishing it with foam, using water tenders requested from Berthoud Fire Protection District and Poudre Fire Authority. The city said the transformer was no longer under its supervision because a contract had passed control of it to the contractor.

Contributing factors

Oil-soaked paper insulation in the drained transformer ignited under the heat of an acetylene torch used during dismantling. The city said a contract had transferred control of the unit to the contractor when the fire occurred. The source does not report the contractor's safety procedures or whether the oil had been fully removed.

Lessons learned

1. Drain and clean residual oil and insulation from decommissioned transformers before any cutting or hot work.
2. Set out in contracts who controls a decommissioned asset and who is responsible for hot work permits and supervision until dismantling is complete.
3. Require a fire watch and firefighting equipment on site whenever hot work takes place near oil-filled equipment.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, worker safety and safe systems of work, fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.

Source

reporterherald.com