Update: Power flickers, outages reported around West Seattle

(Scroll down for morning update on suspected cause)
9:50 PM: Getting multiple reports via e-mail, Twitter, Facebook of power flickers – and apparently at least one actual outage in Highland Park. Checking.

9:57 PM UPDATE: Reported outages include areas of High Point, Fairmount Park, Highland Park. As pointed out by Pete in comments, and shown on the 911 log, there’s a transformer fire reported in the 8100 block of 1st Avenue South, which is between West Seattle and South Park (map) by Highway 509. P.S. If you’re in south West Seattle – those are the White Center Jubilee Days fireworks you’re hearing right now (we can hear them in Upper Fauntleroy, *not* something related to this.)

10:18 PM UPDATE: City Light’s official update calls this a “large” outage in West Seattle, but doesn’t yet list a cause. Still checking.

10:45 PM UPDATE: Just got a call back from City Light media liaison. They still don’t know what caused this, he says, so they don’t know how soon it will be fixed. Crews are currently out following the trail of the outage, which affects about 900 homes/businesses right now (large area but spotty in its effects, as we saw while driving around looking). He says the system “tried to right itself by cycling” – but it “locked out” and “the circuit remained open.” We’ll keep checking for updates.

10:54 PM UPDATE: Getting some reports of power coming back on. Let us know if yours was out but has returned.

11:27 PM UPDATE: Still no official word on the cause – we’ll see what we can find out from the SCL communications team in the morning. But more people have reported getting their power back.

12:03 AM UPDATE: … but not everybody, as comments indicate – part of Highland Park is still out of power.

1:09 AM UPDATE: Paula just texted to say the outage continues in her part of eastern WS. City Light has now briefly mentioned the outage here, but no new info.

1:44 AM UPDATE: And after about four hours, that area’s back too, according to another text just received from Paula. (Thanks again to everyone for sharing news on what’s happening where you are!)

8:11 AM UPDATE: City Light says it believes the outage was caused by a tree/power line conflict in the greenbelt near 4th SW/Cloverdale (northeast of West Seattle Reservoir).

56 Replies to "Update: Power flickers, outages reported around West Seattle"

  • Jim July 14, 2010 (9:52 pm)

    We noticed it on Pigeon Point.

  • Findlay July 14, 2010 (9:52 pm)

    Outage at 34th Ave Sw & Findlay

  • Ron July 14, 2010 (9:52 pm)

    ya, getting power flickering in Alki, about 10mins ago. Seems to have stopped though.
    it’s now 9.52pm

  • Nora July 14, 2010 (9:53 pm)

    Power out in Highland park after several flickers. A couple of distant ‘booms’ heard during flickers.

  • Aim July 14, 2010 (9:53 pm)

    Still out in highland park. Eerily silent without all the electrical noise bouncing off the reservoir. I always thought it was fairly quiet here, but I notice how LOUD it was as soon as it went quiet.

  • celeste17 July 14, 2010 (9:54 pm)

    Mom just asked me if I paid the light bill. I told her nobody has come knocking yet.

  • Meghan July 14, 2010 (9:54 pm)

    Power outage over here on 34th & Findlay :(

  • Kill your television July 14, 2010 (9:54 pm)

    9:50pm Power completely out in Fairmount Park area. Hearing lots of sirens…coincidence?

  • Patty July 14, 2010 (9:55 pm)

    Yes. There is a blackout in Highland Park and South Delridge. No power for at least 30 mins.

  • anon July 14, 2010 (9:55 pm)

    36th and Raymond…power’s been out for at least 5 mins. Lots of lights elsewhere in the neighborhood.

  • Pete July 14, 2010 (9:55 pm)

    transmitter fire on 1st Ave S 8100 block

  • Kelly July 14, 2010 (9:56 pm)

    No power for us. High point area.

  • datamuse July 14, 2010 (9:56 pm)

    We’re still on in Highland Park, but our next door neighbors (who are on a different part of the grid) are dark and several other houses may be as well. We had flickers about 15 minutes ago.

  • Iggy July 14, 2010 (9:57 pm)

    Lights flickered in Morgan Junction about 9:50. Just heard sirens, but now it’s quiet.

  • Nettle Farmer July 14, 2010 (9:57 pm)

    Down on Alki also

  • Michelle July 14, 2010 (10:00 pm)

    Fauntleroy and Raymond, lights flickering and flashed off for a bit. Just heard sirens passing by about 3 minutes ago…

  • Danielle July 14, 2010 (10:02 pm)

    totally dark on 17th and just heard some sirens…

  • LAP July 14, 2010 (10:03 pm)

    A few flickers in the Westwood / Longfellow Creek area, too. thanks for confirming…thought it was a problem with the lamp!

  • Stacy July 14, 2010 (10:04 pm)

    Thanks for keeping us posted, as usual! Much appreciated.

  • WSB July 14, 2010 (10:05 pm)

    Just so the sirens don’t freak you out, you can watch the live 911 log at the link earlier in comments. 18th SW now has an “automatic medical alarm” so that’s what you’re hearing if you’re in that vicinity.

  • Admiral Janeway July 14, 2010 (10:07 pm)

    Lights flickered and the DSL modem lost internet connection.

  • Ron July 14, 2010 (10:08 pm)

    This West Seattle blog is awesome!
    Instant news update! lol

    Was in the shower when it started flickering, thought that was weird.

    Hope it all gets fixed soon and everyone gets power back!

  • Gina July 14, 2010 (10:09 pm)

    Good. I was thinking that I was going to have to change the light bulb in the trickiest fixture in the house.

  • Danielle July 14, 2010 (10:09 pm)

    thanks for the info for 17th! you guys are amazing!

  • Paula T July 14, 2010 (10:12 pm)

    We had flickers about 30 minutes ago, but have since stopped at 44th and Charlestown.

  • Rachel July 14, 2010 (10:14 pm)

    Dark @ 13th & Cloverdale for about 20 minutes.

  • Juan July 14, 2010 (10:15 pm)

    No power here on Delridge Way SW and SW holly:(

  • Michelle July 14, 2010 (10:19 pm)

    I live in Genesee and heard faint distant popping noises. Now I know it was the fireworks. The way sound travels sometimes is amazing!

  • Bryan July 14, 2010 (10:19 pm)

    Totally dark on 12th Ave SW (Highland Park).
    Thank God for iPhones and the WSB.
    I better dig out some candles

  • Jamie July 14, 2010 (10:22 pm)

    thank god for your info on the fireworks in white center. we’re over on the edge of arbor heights, and my poor dog is about to have (another) heart attack. Looks like I’ll have to put July 14th on my calendar along with the 4th to head downtown to stay in a (quiet) hotel room. I’m beginning to really hate fireworks. Oh, and power’s on here.

  • Ryan July 14, 2010 (10:27 pm)

    Power out at old chief sealth HS and surrounding on Delridge.

  • I loved \'em at 4th & Main July 14, 2010 (10:38 pm)

    35th & Barton: lights flickered quite a few times, lost dsl, but now all is good.

  • ambc July 14, 2010 (10:40 pm)

    No power issues at 15th & Henderson in Highland Park.

  • Your neighbor July 14, 2010 (10:47 pm)

    Lights flickered here several times… down on Beach Drive near Lowman Beach about 30 minutes ago. …. Nothing lately happening.

  • Shari July 14, 2010 (10:52 pm)

    Power is on by camp long

  • Findlay July 14, 2010 (10:53 pm)

    Power back on @ 34th Ave Sw and Findlay

  • Aim July 14, 2010 (10:56 pm)

    Ambc I’m less than a block from you and it’s complete blackout over here. (16th and Trenton) I can see the streetlights over at Henderson, though.

  • coffee July 14, 2010 (11:05 pm)

    we were just complaining about the fireworks saying how inconsiderate the neighbors were and then we realized that it was a bit more than a personal show…It was LOUD here in Arbor Heights, and the pets were not happy.

  • Bonnie July 14, 2010 (11:09 pm)

    39th & Henderson/Barton. Huge flickers here awhile ago but power didn’t go out.

  • ad July 14, 2010 (11:15 pm)

    Is there a fireworks show going on? I keep hearing booms, sounds like near the junction area.
    Power flcikering on Genesee Hill.

    • WSB July 14, 2010 (11:20 pm)

      There was a fireworks show in White Center that ended about half an hour, 45 mins ago – Jubilee Days. Definitely audible in WS. But right now? No …

  • Amanda & Kel July 14, 2010 (11:22 pm)

    We heard the booms too — less than 10 minutes ago. Couldn’t figure out if it was fireworks or gun shots. Weird.

  • Auntie Kathy July 14, 2010 (11:22 pm)

    Power back on at 10:50pm – time to recharge batteries.

    Thanks City Light for getting us back on ~ Highland Park.

  • ad July 14, 2010 (11:26 pm)

    Hmm. I heard it about a half hour ago, and then for a short time again at 11:15.

  • miws July 14, 2010 (11:28 pm)

    I just heard some firewoks about 11:15 or so, in the Thriftway block.

    .

    Sounded like they were coming from the north, and/or perhaps east. I looked out my east facing window, but didn’t see anything.

    .

    Mike

  • Bryan July 14, 2010 (11:40 pm)

    Still no power by the Highland Park Elementary

  • MB July 14, 2010 (11:40 pm)

    Still out in highland park at 12th & cloverdale :(

    • WSB July 15, 2010 (12:02 am)

      Not giving up … will note this in main thread. Just glad, even though we’re not directly affected this time, we bought yet more power backup before Summer Fest (Die Hard power supply, battery in a box basically, good for at least a couple hours of plugging stuff in, without burning gasoline) … yikes.

  • Patty July 14, 2010 (11:43 pm)

    Still no power around 17th Ave SW around Henderson Trenton and north. Been at least 2 hours! Is this 1910 or 2010? How much does Jorge Carasco make?!

  • Zach July 14, 2010 (11:47 pm)

    No power right next to Highland Park Elementary yet. 11:45pm

  • Patty July 14, 2010 (11:50 pm)

    Wait, WSB! Don’t give up on us. There are still blocks and blocks in South Delridge around 16th, 17th, Henderson, Trenton, and north with no power. .

  • Mookie July 14, 2010 (11:54 pm)

    Police were dispatched a while ago to Fairmount Park on Fauntleroy for people setting off fireworks…

  • K July 15, 2010 (10:43 am)

    WSB– if you get to talk to City Light before I do I would appreciate it if you would mention that it would be really helpful if they had the outage # on the main web page. I had to really search to find it. And good thing I did, they didn’t have our outage on the recording yet. Thanks!

  • RH July 15, 2010 (11:15 am)

    Did anyone else have flickering lights in the 44th Ave SW & Charlestown area?

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