Fault Causes Fire That Destroys Electrical Service Building

Location: Vernon

Regulated industry sector: Electrical – Low voltage electrical system (30V to 1000V)

Incident overview

A detached electrical service building had a fault that caused a fire and destroyed the structure and regulated electrical equipment. The building provided power to a nearby agricultural operation and housed an 800-amp electrical service and sub-distribution equipment on one side, and a mechanical room on the other. The utility company disconnected the site power 1-3 weeks before the incident due to unpaid fees, then reconnected it following payment. This involved the opening and closing of the main fused disconnect, where the ignition may have occurred.