Mother of All Grease Fires (1994)
milk.com
March 10, 2026
3 min read
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49/100
Summary
The office building in Palo Alto requires approximately one megawatt (1 million watts) of electricity to operate. Its location is surrounded by restaurants and hotels.
Key Takeaways
- A million-watt transformer in Palo Alto was found to be filled with 2,000 gallons of molten frying grease due to illegal dumping by a nearby restaurant.
- The transformer vault's heat prevented the grease from solidifying, creating a significant fire hazard.
- Authorities shut off power, pumped out the grease, and replaced the transformer to prevent a potential disaster.
- The incident highlights the dangers of improper disposal of cooking oil and the risks associated with underground electrical infrastructure.