Substation fires

Let it burn. Burning electrical equipment is already ruined and will be replaced. Contact National Grid and wait for them to arrive. Under no circumstances should you enter the substation before National Grid personnel arrive.
Isolate the area at least 300 feet in all directions. Keep unauthorized persons away.
Be alert to the risk of transformer explosions, smoke hazards and oil releases. Stay upwind and consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 1,000 feet.
Monitor for oil runoff; direct it away from catch basins or surface waters.
If an equipment fire must be suppressed, utility personnel and your incident commander will tell you how to proceed.

Successful response to substation fire

A circuit breaker containing 20 gallons of mineral oil caught fire and exploded at a rural electric substation. Flames and smoke shot 200 feet into the air. Firefighters evacuated nearby residences within 300 feet, set up a 100-foot perimeter around the substation, closed the nearby highway, and let the fire run its course. Thanks to proper response procedures, no one was injured.

If National Grid does not distribute electricity in your department’s response area, please coordinate your incident response with the appropriate local electric utility.