Investigator: Seneca Creek Wildfire Originated Near Pepco Substation

The wildfire that originated close to the Pepco substation, but not inside its grounds, according to an investigation conducted by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials. But the cause of the fire still remains undetermined.

In an incident-offense report, released to the public on Tuesday, the Montgomery County investigator identified the the 17100 block of Germantown Road near the Pepco substation as the place that the Feb. 19 fire originated.

In that area, the investigator said he found evidence of human activity, "including but not limited to discarded smoking material, food and drink containers, rubbish, vehicle tire marks including what appeared to the writer to be those made by conventional passenger vehicles and 'four wheeler' style all terrain vehicles, and remains of tree cutting operations."

According to the report, the fire burned an estimated 460 acres, 337 of which was state owned and 124 of which was privately owned.

From the initial area, the fire spread as far northeast as the area near the intersection of Riffleford Road and Seneca Creek and as far southwest as the area "several hundred yards" east of the 16700 block of Germantown Road.

The investigation including interviews with several community witnesses who reported hearing banging noises and what sounded like explosions coming from the Pepco substation. Several witness also reported their lights flickering on and off  around 7:30 a.m. and losing power at 9:15 a.m. Additionally, the investigator wrote, two people reported seeing burning electric components on a utility pole near 17100 block of Germantown Road at 10:20 a.m.

The first 911 call came in at 10:32 a.m.

According to the Supervisor of Overhead Operations at Pepco, who was also interviewed during the investigation, the burning electric components and loud noises could have been attributed to a branch or tree that struck an overhead distribution line or to a fire at the duct line.

The duct line is "three insulated electric lines [that come] from underground and [run] up the side of a utility pole and is covered by a metal shroud," the report said. According to the Pepco representative, when the fire reached that duct line it could create a loud noise and a shower of sparks.

In the Pepco "fault report" on the fire, a pole was reported on fire at 10:40 a.m. The investigator reported finding "numerous branches both lard and small" that were badly burned near the distribution lines in that area, as well as two piles of heavily burned rubbish.

The report also credits sustained winds between 23 and 31 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 50 miles per hour, for spreading the fire so quickly.

The investigator said details of his interviews will be provided in a supplemental reports in the future. But the investigation is now considered inactive.