A transformer explosion in North Lewiston knocked out electricity for more than 1,100 Avista customers Thursday evening, triggering a roughly two-hour outage that disrupted traffic signals across a stretch of the city.
The outage affected neighborhoods running from the 21st and Main Street corridor up through the 12th Avenue area. Avista crews initially projected power would be restored by 11:30 p.m., but service came back ahead of schedule at approximately 10:30 p.m.
Police Step In as Signals Go Dark
With traffic signals offline, Lewiston police officers moved to direct vehicles at several high-traffic intersections. For roughly 30 minutes, drivers were left to navigate those crossings without functioning lights. Authorities noted officers may have simultaneously been responding to unrelated calls during the same window. Once power returned, traffic flow normalized and officers cleared the scene.
This is the latest in a string of power disruptions affecting Lewiston residents. Officials and residents are encouraged to treat darkened intersections as four-way stops when signals are not operational.
What Comes Next
Avista has not yet publicly detailed the cause or extent of damage to the transformer involved. Residents in the affected area who experienced property damage or other concerns related to the outage are advised to contact Avista directly. The Lewiston Police Department has not indicated any injuries resulted from the traffic signal disruptions during the incident.