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PGE Howard St. Substation Fire

 
Site Contact:
Dan Heister
On-Scene Coordinator

(heister.dan@epa.gov)

Site Location:
501 E 4th St.
Newberg, OR 97132
 response.epa.gov/PGEHowardSt
NRC#: 932814

At approximately 0700 hrs on 2/19/2011 a Portland General Electric (PGE) substation in Newberg, Oregon experienced an equipment fire. A 275 gallon oil filled circuit breaker failed, ignited and sprayed oil into the air. Approximately 10 to 15 gallons of oil left the cofines of the substaion and coated sidewalk, road, soil and vegetaion (approximately 200' by 100'). The oil contained 12 ppm PCB. At the request of Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) FOSC Dan Heister went to the location to assist PGE's with its clean up effort.


275 gallon circuit breaker which exploded and caught fire. Substation looking East, oil covered vegitation in foreground PGE Crew spreading sorbent material on Howard St. Close up of area described in previous photo Close up of previous photo Storm water drain located 60 feet north of spill area on Howard St. No material reached this drain. Spray area due west of Substation, Building mildly impacted is City Thrift Store (not open on weekend. Excavator removing oil stained soil from median strip along Howard St. Sorbent material on side walk and cut oiled vegation along east side of Howard St. Same area as in previous photo looking north along Howard St. Soil, sorbent, and foilage removed from area in previous photo. Photo taken the morning of 2/20. Close up of area where soil and vegetation removed on west side of substation Same area as previous photo looking NE toward damaged circuit breaker. Picture of damaged circuit breaker. South wall of City Thrift Store across from substation along Howard St. 5' by 10' portion of east wall sprayed with oil, cleaned by crew on 2/19. Thrift Store doorway impacted by oil. Secure police dept. parking lot approximately 200' due directly west of substaion. Vehicles and metal roof building show no sign of oiling. Gravel excavation around damaged circuit breaker. Wider angle of excavation looking east. Close up of previous photo. Main gate of substation Damaged insulators and bushings stored in NW corner of substation. Repair work on damaged circuit breaker. Equipment repair looking due south Street drain closest to spill; no apparent sheen. Snow melt water at curb adjacent to damaged circuit breaker Howard St east side), No apparent sheen.
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.