interesting electrical fire in Yate nr Bristol

Gavin John Hyde · Mar 18, 2019

Just read an interesting albeit brief story on a fire in Bristol.
Looks as if the DNO cut out caught fire.
its rare for a cut out to go up,more likely a loose wire on one of the tails to or from meter.
looking at the images the incoming supply has been cut back and nothing is left.
i like the advice they give to maintain the cut out but officially not to do it yourself!
Firefighter's warning after fire erupts in electrical box at home - https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/firefighter-warning-after-fire-erupts-2659525
edit no smart meter fitted! they have now added the other image of a old style meter. thoughts on cause?

Dave OCD · Mar 18, 2019

I'd have thought either the incoming live or neutral became loose in the cutout over time and gradually got hotter and hotter as its resistance increased.

snowhead · Mar 18, 2019

Why have they put photos of 2 different houses (and meter boxes)
up, yet only talk about one fire?

UNG · Mar 18, 2019

snowhead said:
Why have they put photos of 2 different houses (and meter boxes)
up, yet only talk about one fire?

Are you looking a different report to what the OP posted?
The meter box has been ripped out and is on grass covered with dry powder from an extinguisher while the house picture has no meter box in the hole

mhar · Mar 19, 2019

One of the reasons WPD replace 100A cutout fuses with 80A is because in the case of a sustained overload, the fuse carrier will overheat before the fuse blows in some versions of cutout. Obviously with a smaller fuse, this will rupture before the heat build up occur.

Without more information any suggestions as to cause will just be speculation

snowhead · Mar 19, 2019

UNG said:
Are you looking a different report to what the OP posted?
The meter box has been ripped out and is on grass covered with dry powder from an extinguisher while the house picture has no meter box in the hole

Not the pictures I sawon the link in the post.

First picture looked like a box in a rendered wall.

Admittedly it could be powder covered grass.

Second picture shows hole in a Brick wall with missing box.