Thanks for the tips everybody. As always, this forum and the helpful people on it are indispensable.
I suspect the fire was caused by an improperly seated 50A 2-pole main breaker. The feeders were not affected with scorching or melting of insulation, and the main breaker feeding this sub panel from the main panel did not trip and appears unaffected.
The bus below the main in the sub panel literally melted as the main breaker went belly-up.
This is on the back of the guard shack at an old community in Newport Beach, CA., and serves the usually lighting, vehicle gates, etc. Both of the panels looked pretty bad about 3 years ago when I first submitted a proposal for replacement of the entire electrical distribution system, but you know how that goes. They said it was too much money and not needed. After all, the houses in this community only average about $8 million (and I bet that estimate is low). I don't know how they make all that money, but I can guess how they keep it!
Thanks again my friends!
