Phoenix Crews Battle Huge Transformer Blaze

PHOENIX -- State air quality crews are monitoring the air near a stubborn transformer fire inside an Arizona Public Service substation in north Phoenix that's burning extremely hot and throwing off a lot of smoke. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Mark Shaffer tells The Associated Press a plume of black smoke is drifting around the Phoenix area and moving west as mineral oil from one of nine transformers continues to burn.

Dec. 6, 2011

PHOENIX --

State air quality crews are monitoring the air near a stubborn transformer fire inside an Arizona Public Service substation in north Phoenix that's burning extremely hot and throwing off a lot of smoke.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Mark Shaffer tells The Associated Press a plume of black smoke is drifting around the Phoenix area and moving west as mineral oil from one of nine transformers continues to burn.

Shaffer says nearby schools to the southwest of the fire were made aware of the smoke in case conditions change.

So far there have been no evacuations and no health concerns. The nearest home is about a mile away.

Phoenix Fire Department Capt. Scott Walker says about 35,000 gallons of mineral oil, enough to fill two swimming pools, is burning inside the huge transformer.

The fire started around 10 p.m. Monday, and the cause is unknown.