Mother of All Grease Fires

3 days ago

A computer company in Palo Alto uses about a megawatt of electricity, requiring a large underground transformer.
The transformer vault, located near restaurants and City Hall, was found filled with 2000 gallons of used frying grease.
A nearby restaurant had been illegally dumping grease into the vault for years, mistaking it for a storm sewer.
The heat from the transformer kept the grease molten, creating a potential fire hazard.
The situation was resolved by shutting off power, removing the grease, cleaning the vault, and replacing the transformer.
No injuries occurred, but the incident highlighted a dangerous and illegal practice.

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