Fire erupts at PG&E substation in Northern California – Transformers Magazine

Planck Vision Systems manufactures thermal imaging solutions for portable inspection and 24/7 monitoring of commercial applications including: Early Fire Detection, Manufacturing, Substations & Tunnels, Electrical Panel/Cabinets, Storage Facilities, Data Centers and Elevated Body Temperature Screening. Our company is headquartered in Santa Barbara CA, the capital of infrared sensing technologies in the United States. Founded in 2020, our design team has worked together for more than 15 years on thermal/visible camera systems and on products that are currently distributed worldwide.We specialized in working with our customers to meet the unique thermal imaging needs of their clients. Our proven systems have been installed globally in commercial applications for energy production and distribution, food production, transportation, industrial automation, and elevated body temperature (EBT) detection.

I confirm that I have read and agree to the Data privacy statement and Cookie policy.

 

Image for illustration purposes
USA, California, Tehama County: A dramatic fire broke out on April 19 around 9:17 p.m.at a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) 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
#California#emergency response#Kevin Colburn#PG&E#power outage#Red Bluff#substation fire#Tehama County#transformer fire
Meralco triples Tayabas transformer capacity to 300 MVA, boosting power reliability and supporting growth in Quezon and parts of Laguna.
Bajel Projects completes 132 kV transmission line in Lusaka, boosting grid reliability and supporting Zambia’s growing power needs.
Power transformer manufacturer Delta Star is investing $35 M in Lynchburg facility expansion, creating hundreds of new manufacturing and engineering roles.
© 2013-2025 | All Rights Reserved MERIT MEDIA INT.

source
Planck Vision Systems manufactures thermal imaging solutions for portable inspection and 24/7 monitoring of commercial applications including