Heathrow Substation Fire Raises Important Issues About Electricity Infrastructure

The recent fire which broke out at the North Hyde substation (SST) in Hayes, west London received significant publicity over the resulting blackout at Heathrow airport and ‘global' pandemonium caused to flight schedules. However, the significant power outage also cut supplies to over 60,000 homes and businesses. A considerable number of people had to be evacuated from their premises although there were no reports of serious injuries or fatalities from the fire.

Of three transformers (TFs) on the site, one was completely destroyed by the fire, a second (adjacent) TF suffered heat damage, and a third had to be de-activated while the fire was brought under control. Police counter-terrorism units and other industry investigators have to date said that the speculation about criminal or terrorist intentions behind the fire appears to have been unfounded. Instead, it has been suggested that a failure within a high-voltage oil-filled TF likely resulted in electrical