Manufacturing, Power / Energy Facility Cheshire, OH – Power plant fire knocked down by sprinklers August 3, 2015 viking210 A small fire was reported around 10 a.m. Thursday at the General James M. Gavin Power Plant in Cheshire. The power plant is owned American Electric Power. According to Tammy Ridout, manager of media relations for AEP, the fire started in the generator step-up transformer, which is what takes the generator voltage and increases it to match the transmission line voltage so that power can leave the plant. The plant is connected to the grid by 765 kilovolt transmission lines — the highest rated voltage in the U.S. Ridout said that Meigs County fire stations, including Middleport, Pomeroy and Rutland fire departments, were called to the scene, but the flames were contained before they arrived. The fire was extinguished by a deluge system, or an activated sprinkler system, she said. There were no injuries reported. Middleport Fire Chief Jeff Darst said the fire occurred in what is known as Unit 2, where the tranformers are kept behind the plant where they can’t be viewed from the road. However, smoke could be seen rising above the plant from passing motorists. Darst said the fire was contained by the Gavin Fire Brigade by the time he and his crew arrived, but that his crew, as well as Pomeroy and Rutland, all helped extinguish the flames.
