On the evening of Friday, June 26, four transformer stations caught fire in Kerpen, Bonn, and Jülich, causing temporary power outages in several towns and municipalities across North Rhine-Westphalia. According to utility companies, extreme heat placed a strain on components, compounded by technical defects and cable faults. Around 2,200 residents were affected in Kerpen-Sindorf, while the disruptions temporarily impacted approximately 12,000 people in the Rhein-Erft district. In Kerpen, emergency personnel examined 16 residents, and two people were hospitalized; however, experts will only determine the exact cause once repairs have been completed.
Transformer stations catch fire almost simultaneously in several cities
The most serious incident occurred in Kerpen-Sindorf. Fire crews were dispatched to Paul-Klee-Straße and Am Entenpfuhl around 10:30 p.m. Upon arrival, the facility was already burning fiercely, and smoke was drifting into surrounding streets. Consequently, the fire department issued a NINA alert, advising residents to keep their windows and doors closed.
Image: ©Kerpen Fire Department
Emergency crews cordoned off a wide area around the site. They also checked nearby houses for the presence of smoke, though measurements indicated no danger to the public. Teams only opened the facility after the utility company had disconnected the power supply. Several firefighters entered the site wearing breathing apparatus. A total of 70 emergency personnel were on the scene. The damaged transformer stations, however, demonstrate how quickly issues with local grid infrastructure can affect entire streets.
Further Power Outages Reported in Bonn and Jülich
Two transformer stations also caught fire in the southern part of Bonn. Fire crews responded at approximately 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. They quickly extinguished the fires, but the damage caused a power outage. The municipal utility company, Stadtwerke Bonn, dispatched numerous personnel, and power was restored shortly after midnight.
Power was also temporarily lost in Jülich and several surrounding areas. However, most households had their supply restored quickly, though in some isolated cases, restoration took until the early morning hours. Westnetz also reported technical malfunctions and cable faults in Frechen, Bergheim, and Bedburg. According to regional reports, the hospital in Bergheim was also affected, although the extent and consequences remained unclear at the time.
Heat strains grid infrastructure; repairs ongoing
Westnetz has restored power to all affected areas. However, repairs are still underway in Kerpen. Only once these are complete can the grid operator fully return the system to normal operating status. The technical cause can also only be examined in detail once the work is finished. Such transformer stations are crucial for local distribution, meaning that damage often has an immediate impact on households, hospitals, and businesses.
The heatwave affected more than just the power grid in North Rhine-Westphalia. On Friday, the German Weather Service issued warnings of extreme heat across the state. Meteorologists also anticipated further warnings—up to Level 2—for the weekend. Daytime highs across North Rhine-Westphalia generally ranged from 36 to 40 degrees Celsius. Consequently, E.ON identifies real-time data, digitalization, and robust equipment as key elements of grid operations. However, the company does not consider complete protection against extreme events to be feasible.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: Tagesschau (27.06.26) – Feuerwehr Kerpen (27.06.26) – Presseportal (27.06.26) – Kölner Stadtanzeiger (27.06.26)