Xcel Energy Switching Station Fire Cause Finally Explained
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- The elusive cause of a spectacular fire at Xcel Energy's Chambers Switching Station on the day after Christmas 2010 has finally been solved.
"That failure occurred due to damage to this brand new unit during shipping," said Xcel spokeswoman Michelle Aquayo.
Investigators originally focused on two possible causes: a manufacturing defect or operator error.
But it turned out to be neither after a lengthy investigation by the transformer manufacturer.
"I think this is just one of those things that happens," added Aquayo.
There were no power outages due to the fire, nobody was hurt. 
A replacement transformer is currently being installed at no cost to customers and should be operational by mid June.
On December 26, 2010, a big column of black smoke coming from the facility near Chambers and Smith Road in Aurora attracted a crowd of worried on-lookers. Flames reached 50 to 100 feet high.
Aurora Fire had to call in help from Buckley Air Force Base.
Two crash trucks, equipped with fire-fighting foam, finally managed to subdue the flames.
What burned were 2,500 gallons of oil and a recently delivered, newly installed transformer.
It was one of two new transformers sent to Xcel at the same time.
The second transformer has always worked fine with no problems.
So investigators got to thinking maybe something had wrong between the time the first one was built and put in.
The fact the fire was determined to be caused by "shipping damage" makes it difficult to know how to prevent a repeat problem.
"It can happen if you buy a tv at the store and you're bringing it home and something jiggles," said Aquayo.
She adds there is little Xcel can do but keep a close eye on the equipment.
