Fire erupts at substation in Northern California
Massive blaze at a substation in Tehama County knocks out power and lights up the night sky; cause under investigation.
Image for illustration purposes
USA, California, Tehama County: A dramatic fire broke out on April 19 around 9:17 p.m.at a substation in South Red Bluff, located in Northern California’s Sacramento Valley. The fire sent out blue flashes and a fiery explosion into the sky, temporarily cutting power to nearby homes.
Fire crews from Cal Fire, the Tehama County Fire Department, and the Red Bluff City Fire Department quickly responded. “There was active fire on arrival,” said Kevin Colburn, spokesperson for Cal Fire’s Tehama-Glenn Unit. “The substation fire triggered a power outage, and the cause is still under investigation,” added Culburn.
Bystander photos captured bright purple and blue flashes moments before flames erupted. Resident Lalo Diaz described the moment: “We saw a blue light, the power flickered, and then we heard a loud boom. My dad and I went outside and saw a huge fireball—it was terrifying.”
Colburn noted that while substations may not look flammable, internal electrical components, including transformers, contain materials that can burn intensely during malfunctions.
Though not the city’s main power station, the substation’s failure caused a significant disruption. Power was restored by midnight, and firefighters remained on scene for nearly three hours.
Source: SFGATE
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