MADISON, WISCONSIN - A large explosion and fire at the Blount Street substation in Madison, Wisconsin that cut power to much of downtown Madison last Friday was caused by a failed transformer.

"We know that our transformer failed, and we are looking at many of its components to identify the root cause," an American Transmission Company spokesperson said in a statement, reports KWOW.

The insulating fluid burned in a fire creating a thick column of smoke which could be seen miles away.

"Some of the insulating fluid burned in the fire, some was safely pumped from the transformer over the weekend, and our environmental contractor used a skimming method to separate the dielectric fluid from water used to put out the fire that flowed from the substation," the spokesperson said.

This substation contains transmission equipment belonging to ATC and distribution equipment belonging to MGE.

Shortly after the fire at the Blount substation, a second fire occurred in the ATC portion of the East Campus substation near the Kohl Center. These two substations are connected by the transmission system.

ATC is investigating what caused the Blount and East Campus substation fires and resulting damage.

Source: WKOW