A transformer explosion in North Lewiston knocked out electricity for more than 1,100 Avista customers Thursday evening, prompting a police response at several busy intersections across the affected area.
The outage stretched across a broad section of North Lewiston, impacting neighborhoods running from 21st and Main streets up toward 12th Avenue. Avista crews initially projected power restoration by 11:30 p.m., but service was brought back online roughly an hour ahead of schedule, around 10:30 p.m.
Police Direct Traffic as Signals Go Dark
With traffic signals offline, Lewiston police officers stepped in to manage intersections during the outage. For approximately 30 minutes, drivers navigated major crossings without functioning lights. Officers cleared the scene once electricity was restored and normal traffic flow resumed. Authorities noted that some officers may have also been handling unrelated calls during the same period.
This is the latest in a series of power-related disruptions to affect the Lewiston area. A power outage affecting roughly 1,100 customers in Lewiston was also reported in recent days, raising questions about grid reliability in certain parts of the city.
What Comes Next
Avista has not released details on what caused the transformer failure or whether infrastructure upgrades are planned for the affected corridor. Residents and local officials may press the utility for more information as the community looks to prevent similar outages. Anyone with questions about power reliability in the area is encouraged to contact Avista directly. Lewiston has also seen other recent public safety incidents, including a structure fire that left a building a total loss in the city.