A transformer fire at the Biltmore Estate winery in Asheville caused minor injuries, triggered emergency response, and led to a temporary closure.

A transformer fire broke out at the Biltmore Estate winery in Asheville, North Carolina, on Tuesday, December 30, at approximately 11:22 a.m., triggering an emergency response. Firefighters arrived within 20 minutes, extinguished the blaze using dry chemicals, and contained it before the winery opened. One contractor sustained minor burn injuries, treated on-site but not transported to a hospital. The winery’s sprinkler system activated as designed. The cause remains under investigation, and the winery was temporarily closed for the day, though other estate areas stayed open. The incident occurred during winter weather and high winds that caused additional power outages in western North Carolina.