A transformer explosion in North Lewiston left more than 1,100 Avista customers without electricity Thursday evening, triggering a police response and temporary traffic disruptions across several busy intersections.
The outage stretched across a broad swath of North Lewiston, affecting customers from the 21st and Main streets corridor up through the 12th Avenue area. Utility crews initially projected power would not return until around 11:30 p.m., but service was restored ahead of schedule at approximately 10:30 p.m.
Officers Directed Traffic During Outage
With traffic signals dark during the outage, Lewiston police deployed to intersections to keep vehicles moving safely. For approximately 30 minutes, drivers navigating the affected area were without functioning signals and had to treat intersections as four-way stops. Officers cleared the scene once power came back online. Authorities noted that some officers may have simultaneously been responding to unrelated calls during the outage period.
This is the latest in a series of power-related incidents affecting Lewiston residents. A power outage earlier this week similarly impacted more than 1,100 customers in the area Thursday evening. Residents with questions about outage reporting or restoration timelines can contact Avista directly.
What Comes Next
Avista crews worked to identify the cause of the transformer failure and assess equipment in the affected area. No injuries were reported in connection with the explosion or the outage. Lewiston residents are encouraged to monitor local alerts during future outages, as officers may not always be available to staff every intersection when signals go dark. Normal traffic flow resumed once power was fully restored.