A transformer explosion in North Lewiston triggered a significant power outage Thursday evening, cutting electricity to more than 1,100 Avista customers across a wide stretch of the city.
The disruption affected neighborhoods running from the 21st and Main streets corridor up through the 12th Avenue area. Avista crews initially projected restoration by 11:30 p.m., but managed to bring service back online roughly an hour ahead of schedule, around 10:30 p.m.
Officers Manage Intersections During Outage
With traffic signals dark across several busy intersections, Lewiston police stepped in to manually direct vehicles through the affected zones. For approximately 30 minutes, drivers were without functioning signals and had to treat intersections as four-way stops. Officers cleared the scene once power was restored and traffic patterns returned to normal. Authorities noted that some officers may have also been handling unrelated calls during that window.
This marks another infrastructure disruption for Lewiston in recent weeks. A power outage affecting more than 1,100 customers was reported in the city on Thursday evening, underscoring the strain that electrical incidents can place on public safety resources. Lewiston has also dealt with separate emergency incidents, including a shop fire that left a building a total loss earlier this period.
What Comes Next
Avista has not publicly released details on the specific cause of the transformer failure or whether infrastructure upgrades are planned for the affected area. Residents experiencing continued concerns about electrical service are encouraged to contact Avista directly. Lewiston police have not indicated any ongoing traffic safety issues related to Thursday’s outage.