Communication error at Hilversum transformer house fire reported to have exposed firefighters to risk

2018Published 13 Nov 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisionalNext update 14 Nov

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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Liander, ProRail

What happened

According to NH Nieuws, a fire broke out at a transformer house beside the railway in Hilversum while a subcontractor working for ProRail was carrying out work inside the building. The first fire unit arrived at about 09:10 and asked grid operator Liander to isolate the high and medium voltage in the building. Liander reported through the control room that the voltage had been removed at a distance from the building, but high voltage was still present, according to the mayor's letter reported by the paper.

During the operation the burning cabinet broke apart, and firefighters left the building without injury. The building was reported to have been made fully dead at about 13:00, and firefighting resumed. Train services between Hilversum and Utrecht Overvecht were halted and resumed at about 15:00. Residents received an NL-Alert. Measurements reported no harmful substances in the neighbourhood, and asbestos released inside the building was reported not to have spread outside it.

Contributing factors

The mayor's letter, as reported, attributes the risk to a communication error by Liander. The cause of the fire has not been reported; ProRail is investigating what went wrong.

Lessons learned

Where a fire service requests isolation of energised equipment, confirm on site that high voltage is off before crews enter or begin suppression.
Record isolation status and its confirmation between the grid operator, the building's operator and contractors working inside the asset.

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

Source

nhnieuws.nl

Published 2026-11-13. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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