Update: Fire Units Cleared Ravensdale Substation Fire Just After Midnight Tuesday

Updated Tuesday, March 26:

King County Fire District 47 and Maple Valley Fire units responded to the Bonneville Power Station (30725 SE Retreat-Kanasket Road)  just before 5:15 p.m. Monday evening. Initial reports from people calling 911 was that their had been an explosion at the power station and could see smoke and flames.

Other people calling 911 reported feeling or hearing the explosion miles away. Firefighters were kept at a distance for safety as this power station is a major feeder from the Grand Coulee Dam to local utilities companies around Western Washington.

A shelter in place order was advised for the area around the power station due to the unknowns of what was burning and fear a second reactor could explode. There was no evacuation ordered and the shelter in place was lifted around 7:30 p.m. after it was determined the material inside the reactor was mineral oil and the level of fire had decreased.

Fire and BPA officials toured the area of the reactor before  9 p.m.  to get an up close view of the fire and damage. It would take another two hours before most of the power to the station was taken off line so that a Boeing Tanker truck from Renton was able to move close enough to put a special foam agent via fire hoses on the fire and to cool the reactor.

BPA is handing the investigation into the cause of the explosion. There were no injuries to firefighters or the public as a result of the explosion.

In all more than 40 fire personnel responded at the peak of the call, including those from KCFD 47 (Palmer-Selleck), Maple Valley, Kent, Skyway, Boeing (Renton Plant), King County Medic One and Zone 3 Rehab.

-Information from Dave Nelson, spokesperson for Skyway Fire Department

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Original story:

Retreat-Kanasket Road was reportedly reopened to residents by 9 p.m. Monday following a fire at a Bonneville Power Administration substation, a Skyway Fire Department official reported on Twitter.

Spokesperson Dave Nelson tweeted an initial explosion was first reported at 5:11 p.m. by BPA officials.

Residents near the power station were warned they'd continue to hear loud noises on and off as officials de-energize the plant to determine the extent of damage, he said.

Despite earlier reports, the oil in the transformer was non-toxic and was mineral oil. Boeing Fire from Renton was assisting in extinguishing the fire.