A transformer explosion in North Lewiston knocked out electricity for more than 1,100 Avista customers Thursday evening, triggering a response from utility crews and local law enforcement across a broad stretch of the city.
The outage affected a corridor running from 21st and Main streets north toward 12th Avenue. Avista initially projected power would be fully restored by 11:30 p.m., but crews completed repairs ahead of schedule, with service returning to affected customers around 10:30 p.m.
Officers Direct Traffic as Signals Go Dark
With traffic signals offline, Lewiston police moved in to manage intersections along the affected route. For approximately 30 minutes, drivers navigated busy crossings without functioning lights. Officers remained on scene until the grid came back online, at which point traffic patterns returned to normal. Authorities noted that some officers may have simultaneously been responding to unrelated calls during the outage window.
This marks the latest in a string of public safety incidents keeping Lewiston officers occupied in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a Thursday evening outage also left roughly 1,100 Lewiston residents without power, and the department has handled several other notable calls, including a collision involving an ISP patrol vehicle that investigators are still seeking information about.
What Comes Next
Avista has not publicly released details on the root cause of the transformer failure or whether infrastructure upgrades are planned for the affected area. Residents and businesses along the impacted corridor are encouraged to report any lingering electrical issues directly to Avista. No injuries were reported in connection with the explosion or the traffic disruptions that followed.