Power plant transformer catches fire Sunday

A fire broke out shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday at Progress Energy’s Crystal River Complex.

Matthew BEck

The fossil fuel power plants at Progress Energy’s Crystal River Complex are seen Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011.

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“We can confirm there was a fire on the transformer on Unit 1, and there were no injuries,” said Leah Bickley, Progress Energy spokeswoman, on Sunday.

Only three weeks earlier, on Dec. 19, according to a Citrus County Fire Rescue incident report, crews were dispatched at 6:46 a.m. to a reported transformer fire at Crystal River Units 1 and 2, which are fossil fuel power plants, on Powerline Road in Crystal River.

On that occasion, the transformer and surrounding area were damaged, but the cause of the fire was unknown, fire rescue reported.

After the second fire, Bickley said a fire in a transformer is not typical. She said the plant manager was en route Sunday to the scene and would conduct a root cause analysis to determine the reason for the fire.

The utility maintains fire-fighting staff on the site.

Gail Tierney, spokeswoman for the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed the call for county backup was received at 12:41 p.m. Sunday.