West Seattle, Washington
09 Tuesday
Seattle Public Utilities is repairing a water line at Delridge/Hudson. That’s affecting more than 140 homes and businesses, according to the SPU water-outage map. We don’t know if it’s related to the Delridge road work, but an advisory about it was sent to a text-message list associated with that project, saying service might be affected until tomorrow morning.
6:51 PM: Thanks for the tips. We’re hearing from multiple people in Gatewood, mostly along SW Holden, from California SW east, who say they lost power about 10 minutes ago. The City Light map initially only showed 1 customer affected but has just updated to 73. We’re checking on the cause; we’ve been hearing some scanner traffic tonight about wires downed in the wind.
7:15 PM: We just drove SW Holden, confirming that the outage goes east to 37th SW. No sign of City Light in the area, though (if you see them working anywhere, let us know).
7:43 PM: A caller tells us City Light now has a crew at 41st/Holden.
10:40 PM: Outage is in its fifth hour. No official update from SCL.
11:46 PM: The map now shows most of the outage resolved. We’ll follow up with SCL tomorrow regarding the cause.
ADDED THURSDAY EVENING: SCL spokesperson Julie Moore tells WSB the outage was caused by “equipment failure.”
(Added: WSB photo)
3:02 PM: A big Seattle Fire response is arriving for a reported natural-gas leak at Oregon 42 (42nd SW/SW Oregon). They’re blocking some of the streets – including Oregon between 41st and California, and 42nd between Genesee and Alaska – until the situation is handled. Updates to come.
3:06 PM: They haven’t yet found the source of the possible leak, and air readings are NOT showing natural gas – they’ve just noted a “sewer” type of odor in the building – so they’re likely about to downsize the response. PSE is there helping to investigate.
3:15 PM: The incident log shows all but four responding units have been dismissed.
3:18 PM: And just announced over the emergency-radio channel, “Confirmed false.” Wrapping up, roads reopening. Our crew at the scene has confirmed that neither SFD nor PSE could find any evidence of a problem.
6:49 PM: Thanks for the tip and photo. Seattle Public Utilities is at the scene of a water break at 51st and Spokane. The SPU water-outage map says 36 customers have lost water as a result. Even if your water is still oh, problems like this might cause discolored water for others nearby.
8:27 PM: Still out, per map. And we’ve heard via comment and email from people as far as half a mile away who are seeing discolored water as a result.
10:25 PM: Water’s back on. Commenter Jen says it came back around quarter till 10; the map says everyone was back by 10:05 pm. (If you’re not, be sure to notify SPU at 206-386-1800.)
(Added: WSB photo)
4:50 PM: Seattle Fire is arriving in the vicinity of 36th/Thistle to respond to a natural-gas leak. Neighboring homes are being evacuated as a precaution. Puget Sound Energy is on scene. Avoid the area.
5:04 PM: PSE is working on shutting down the leak; SFD is monitoring gas levels in the air.
5:16 PM: PSE is having some difficulty clamping off the line, according to firefighters’ radio communication with dispatch, so this isn’t handled yet.
5:20 PM: The line is now clamped. In a few minutes firefighters plan to check the air again to be sure the homes are safe to re-occupy..
4 PM: Thanks for all the tips – power’s out over what seems to be a wide area of West Seattle – so far reports include Alki, Admiral, Avalon/Genesee – updates to come. And remember that a dark traffic signal (we’ve heard California/Admiral and 35th/Avalon and Delridge/Genesee are out, among others) is a 4-way stop!
4:05 PM: Also via scanner, trees are reported down in the 1500 block of Ferry and 7100 block of 31st SW (photo added above – came down right between two cars) . … City Light map has just updated, 6,700+ customers out.
4:16 PM: Ferry Avenue is blocked because of the tree trouble. Screengrab of City Light map added above. … Police radio indicates there are also lines down at California Way/Harbor.
4:28 PM: Multiple reports of an explosion-type sound in the Fairmount Playfield area after the initial outage started – looks like that area now has a pocket outage of its own, 91 customers:
4:46 PM: The National Weather Service still has the Wind Advisory alert set to expire at 6 pm. Peak gusts so far today have included 48 mph at Sea-Tac. Meantime, the City Light map shows several small pocket outages in addition to the 6,700+ and 91 out in the ones we’ve mentioned.
5:12 PM: Thanks to Susan Elderkin for the photo of tree branch vs. fire that led to the Fairmount outage:
That is in the 5400 block of 40th SW. … Thanks to Jamie Kinney for sending video of wind-fueled waves along West Seattle’s west-facing shores – first, Lowman Beach:
Next, Constellation Park:
5:36 PM: Note that some businesses are affected, particularly in the Admiral Junction. In comments, Shelby says Admiral Safeway is open though out of power – refrigerated/frozen items aren’t being sold right now, so the cases can remain closed.
6:48 PM: Just drove through much of the outsge zone – Admiral Junction businesses and traffic signals dark, though the power picks up again at California/Lander. The wind has calmed.
7:01 PM: Re-checking the SCL map, we noticed there’s also a pocket of 454 out at the east end of the SW Roxbury corridor, so we’ve updated the total out in West Seattle to 7,200+.
8:01 PM: No updates yet. While we always warn that SCL’s “estimated restoration time” is a useless guesstimate, even that hasn’t been updated, nor has the cause, though the crews seem to be focused on Ferry Avenue. We couldn’t get close to the scene but have received these photos – first, from Treehugger:
There’s also a pole down in the area:
Here’s where the road is closed:
(Thanks to Susanna Moore from longtime WSB sponsor Niederberger Contracting for that photo.) SCL says it’s handling 60 different outages throughout its service zone. Meantime, though the wind has lessened, it was still enough for some sunset surf at Alki:
Thanks to Samantha Lazar – a teenage volleyball player who was practicing at the beach at sunset, despite the wind – for the photo.
8:44 PM: Getting word in comments and via texts that many if not all have just come back online. The map may lag ~15 minutes in accurately reflecting who’s still out, so thanks for the updates!
9:01 PM: The map is updated. Still 1,000+ out scattered around West Seattle – primarily the tip of the peninsula plus that pocket at the east end of the Roxbury corridor.
10:04 PM: No change in the past hour. Below is the map of who’s still out, for the record – most of the markers in West Seattle are single-digit outages, except for the two in the north, and the pockets in Fairmount and Myers/Olson.
11:20 PM: One of the north-end pockets is back, so we’re now at about 800 out around West Seattle after 7 1/2 hours.
12:46 AM: Checked the map and almost everyone’s back on, in West Seattle.
Thanks to Ashley for the tip: A Seattle Public Utilities crew is working on what appears to be a water problem outside the Swedish clinic in the 3400 block of California SW, and a lane is closed as a result. The water-outage map shows no one without service – let us know if you know otherwise.
(Added: WSB photo)
11:24 AM: Stay clear of Delridge/Hudson – there’s another natural-gas-leak response, and both Seattle Fire and Puget Sound Energy are responding.
11:27 AM: Per scanner, a 2″ line was broken. SFD is evacuating “one building to the east” precautionarily and having others nearby shelter in place. Delridge is blocked in the meantime.
11:36 AM: Delridge is blocked between Oregon and Orchard as this response continues, our crew reports.
11:44 AM: PSE is still working on stopping the leak but is reported to be closed. It’s described as an “open-air leak” and some of the SFD units are being dismissed.
12:04 PM: Photo added. This is in the road-work zone, and not the first utility problem – we’ve reported on previous gas and water breaks, and we’ll be following up with SDOT to see what their contractor is doing to minimize future problems – the project started in June and still has about a year to go.
12:30 PM: SDOT says Delridge has reopened.
10:30 PM: Power’s out in some West Seattle areas. More than 5,000 out per map. Updates to come.
10:35 PM: Map added above. … The SCL map counts this as two outages, totaling more than 5,200 homes/businesses. Though no cause is officially identified yet, you’re probably well aware it’s a blustery night.
10:49 PM: Multiple reports of a flash seen/boom heard about the time the outage began, but there are no fire calls in the area, so haven’t heard any verification of that. Meantime, a couple standard power-outage reminders:
-If you have to drive, flashing or dark signals = 4-way stops
-Don’t open your fridge/freezer – if it’s a long outage, that’ll increase the time its contents can keep without spoiling
-Don’t get fixated on whatever ‘estimated restoration time” you see on the SCL map. That’s literally a guess, and seldom related to what actually happens. Could be back much sooner OR much later.
11:02 PM: Updated the headline to note that part of South Park is out too.
11:26 PM: Don’t know whether it’s cause, effect, or coincidence, but an SFD engine is checking out a reported power pole problem in the 7300 block of 19th SW. … (Minutes later) They couldn’t find the reported arcing wires, so they’re closing the call. Still no official word from SCL re: the problem.
11:58 PM: Some of those who lost power are back on – now it’s down to 3,600+.
12:14 AM: More are reporting restoration as of a few minutes ago. The map usually lags so we’ll see shortly how many. … Update: Now down to about 1,900 still out.
12:36 AM: Now some just LOST power … new outage, apparently. Highland Park and White Center have reported in. Map just updated – 3,500 more customers – the southernmost cluster here:
12:39 AM: Didn’t last long, at least for some.
12:49 AM: Now that entire south cluster is gone from the map, so we’re back to almost 2,000 out in West Seattle/South Park. … (added) A few of them are back on too, about 60 customers. A little over 1,800 remain without power.
1:11 AM: From Sunrise Heights – a security camera caught the 10:24 pm flashes that lit up the sky just as all this started – :32 into the video:
2:27 AM: Now down to a little more than 1,100 out.
2:56 AM: And another group is back. Now the West Seattle pocket is down to just under 500, with the South Park pocket at 240.
7:59 AM: Those two pockets are still out.
9:48 AM: SCL says via Twitter they’re hoping to have everyone back on by 11 am.
10:32 AM: The West Seattle pocket is down to 156; total number out now just under 400.
12:22 PM: Julie Moore from SCL just replied to our inquiry about the cause, and included a photo:
The cause was a large tree that affected two circuit feeders, with the impact along the main line for both feeders limiting ability to switch.
The impact site is in a greenbelt, creating difficulty for accessing the site and bringing in equipment, affecting the time it’s taken to complete repairs.
2:22 PM: Since that last check, everyone’s come back on.
6:07 PM: Thanks to neighbor John for the tip. In addition to the east Alki pocket that’s still out following the big 3:30 am power outage, there’s an outage at California/Genesee that has left several businesses without power for almost two hours, including Itto’s Tapas, which has closed for the night as a result. John says the outage also has affected Fauntleroy Chiropractic (WSB sponsor), Salon 08, Juniper, and Regina Nails. City Light lists the cause as “equipment failure.”
9:46 PM: This outage is now over, according to the SCL map.
3:37 AM: Getting texts about a widespread power outage. More than 6,700 customers, says the City Light map.
No word yet on the cause.
3:48 AM: Don’t know whether it’s cause/effect/coincidence, but just heard via scanner that there’s a big tree down on California Way near Harbor Ave. Meantime, speaking of roads, remember that if traffic signals are out, that means 4-way stop.
4:15 AM: While we’re waiting, a word of caution – though the SCL map lists “estimated restoration” as 10 am, estimates like that are NOT grounded in anything beyond a guess, so it could be back much sooner … or much later. West Seattle’s last major power outage was on August 13th, 3,600+ customers affected, but to the south. Checking on north West Seattle’s last major outage. (Added: August of last year, a downed tree on Harbor took out 3,000+ customers)
4:41 AM: Longtime WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli checked out the tree scene:
He says police at the scene confirmed it’s related. (Added) Crews are there:
4:54 AM: City Light confirms the tree’s to blame.
5:31 AM: Getting word some power’s back on – Youngstown, near Alki, and 32nd/Genesee. Thanks! (Added: Other areas too – see comments. The SCL map lags up to 15 minutes, so we’ll see in a bit if everyone’s back or if some outage pockets remain.)
5:44 AM: SCL map updated. 80 percent of those who originally lost power have it back, but 1,314 customers are still out.
5:49 AM: Now 1,090 – here’s the updated-again map:
Thanks again for letting us know (text 206-293-6302) when power’s out, or restored – the SCL map can lag 15+ minutes, and when an outage is completely over, there’s no archived record of its end time.
6:56 AM: 755 still out.
10:14 AM: In addition to those 755, power is back out for 74 more. This is not unusual during repair situations. Readers who’ve been by the downed-tree site this morning sent photos – first, from Marc Milrod:
And from Stewart L:
Stewart says crews told him repairs might take hours longer to finish. We’re checking with City Light.
11:24 AM: Now everyone’s back except the cluster of 74 who re-lost power two hours ago.
4:35 PM: They’re not back yet. But work continues – here’s a photo from David Hutchinson:
And a wide view from Stewart L.:
9:13 PM: Still no relief for that pocket. City Light was still working when we went by right before sunset:
1:42 AM SATURDAY: And those 74 customers are still without electricity.
FINAL UPDATE: Multiple reports say they finally got the power back around 2:20 am.
Two notes related to the Delridge Way SW road project paving the way for the RapidRide H Line:
OUTAGE: SDOT confirms a crew working on the project hit a water line this morning. That caused an hour-long water outage, according to the Seattle Public Utilities map, which says more than 30 customers were affected. The photo above was sent by Josh, who says the crew also “hit our internet.” SDOT spokesperson Adonis Ducksworth tells WSB the department is “investigating the situation.:
POSTPONEMENT: In our exchange with Ducksworth, we asked if this weekend’s Delridge/Oregon closure was still on, since we hadn’t seen a mention yet of preparations such as bus rerouting. No, he said, it’s postponed; they’re aiming for next weekend, weather permitting.
6:30 PM: Thanks for the tips. Some residents near 35th/Avalon are out of power; the Seattle City Light outage map notes “bird/animal” and indeed, one person who messaged us said a bird flew into a wire. The map says three customers are affected, though an entire building/business can count as one customer, so there may be a higher number of people affected. The traffic signal at 35th/Avalon was working when we went through shortly after it happened, so no trouble on that front.
8:44 PM: The outage is now mapped as affecting 66 customers.
Since Seattle City Light started its Arroyo Conduit Installation Project in southwest West Seattle more than two years ago, it’s sent monthly project updates. Up until this past March, the updates listed the project timeline as “18-20 months” (though by then it was in month 22). Then the timeline mentions stopped – until today’s update:
Seattle City Light received several inquiries about the status of the Arroyo Conduit Installation Project. We acknowledge that construction delays have resulted in an extended project timeline and we recognize the inconvenience this has caused for neighbors and community.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated multiple changes to our operations staffing model and at this time, we continue to operate with approximately 75% of our typical staff. The Arroyo Conduit Installation Project remains a high priority for City Light and the City.
Construction on 42nd Avenue SW will continue through October 2020; however, timing for follow-up work by the Seattle Department of Transportation is unclear.
The entire project is now estimated for completion in the 3rd quarter of 2021. We recognize that the timing is not what we’ve previously communicated and understand that the delay is frustrating. Our goal is to meet our customer commitments and it’s disappointing when we aren’t able to do so.
Please be aware that due to the nature of our work maintaining the electrical system, some essential tasks require crew members to work closely together for their safety. We ask that residents continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines when walking near a construction site. The safety of our customers and crews is our number one priority. This work is in accordance with protocols in place to meet all COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington State Department of Health, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Again, we apologize for the delay.
9:07 AM: Just got two reports of an unannounced water outage near Delridge/Hudson. If you’re affected, be sure to notify Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800; we’re checking with SPU too.
9:17 AM: Remember that the city now has a water-outage map, similar to its long-running power-outage map, as reported here in July. The map says 82 customers are affected.
4:11 PM: From SPU: “Our crews were able to get water restored for customers about 12:30 today after working to repair an 8-inch water main that was damaged this morning at a construction site.”
ORIGINAL SUNDAY MORNING REPORT: Just got word from SDOT Traffic Operations that the south Delridge Way closure is now NOT expected to end tonight as planned. The closure between 18th and Barton is now expected to last through Monday, reopening by 5 am Tuesday. The utility work, involving installing a catch basin, has proven to be more complicated than expected, so they need extra time. The map above shows the detour; in addition to the work zone with the full road closure, Delridge is “local access only” between Roxbury and Henderson.
7:53 AM MONDAY: SDOT spokesperson Adonis Ducksworth tells WSB the crew worked late into the night and was able to reopen Delridge early today after all.
(WSB photo, last Saturday)
Last Saturday, you might recall, crews working to replace damaged pavement on 44th SW in The Junction, between SW Alaska and SW Edmunds, hit a gas line. We followed up with SDOT to ask how that happened. Spokesperson Kari Tupper says that, as with the Delridge breaks last month, this was a case of a line that shouldn’t have been there, and that in turn forced the extension of the work into this past Monday:
On Saturday, SDOT paving crews discovered a gas line that appears to have been abandoned by someone who did not follow the proper shutoff/ removal procedures. SDOT crews followed all of the proper safety protocols before and after the gas line break, and worked with Puget Sound Energy and Seattle Fire Department to shut off the abandoned gas line.
While our paving crews resolved the situation relatively quickly, the incident forced us to push back our concrete delivery by a few hours and our concrete supplier was unable to provide all of the concrete mix we needed due to commitments with another contractor who had arranged a large delivery that same afternoon. The supplier was unable to open up their facilities to make a delivery on Sunday. Fortunately, our crews adapted to the situation and were able to accomplish other necessary work on Sunday. The concrete was delivered and crews finished the paving work on Monday morning.
The project is now back on schedule and that means two more weekend closures as originally announced: this weekend (August 22-23) and next (August 29-30).
6:11 PM: Another power outage – this one affecting the area around Roxbury Safeway, with the City Light map listing 203 customers affected. One tipster says a truck reportedly hit a line:
(Added: Reader photo)
We went over to look for City Light trucks – did not see any, but did notice that the 26th/Roxbury traffic signal is out. (Remember, that means 4-way stop.)
8:11 PM: Map shows the outage is over.
Though nobody mentioned it to us at the time, we’ve had enough reports now of a brief early-early-morning outage in north West Seattle that we’re writing this to get it on the record. Cami on Alki was first to mention it – “Our clocks stopped for 1:45 min. It was long enough for the fridge to show condensation.” We’ve also heard from people in Admiral, Belvidere, and on Harbor Avenue. Any other areas affected?
(Added: WSB photos)
12:08 PM: All those sirens were for a gas-leak callout at Rutan/Edmunds [map]. Most units, though, are being dismissed.
12:46 PM: SFD crews still at the scene told us it was caused by the crew doing road work on 44th near Edmunds. No injuries. They’re getting ready to close out the response and leave.
4:17 PM: It’s not mapped yet but that’s where we’ve heard from so far. Anywhere else?
4:20 PM: Mapped now, 3,639 customers out.
4:28 PM: Some traffic signals are out on Roxbury – remember that a dark signal = 4-way stop.
4:33 PM: No official cause yet from SCL but multiple commenters report hearing booms just before losing power.
5:20 PM: A texter tells us Westwood Village is affected. We’ll head over to look soon.
6:04 PM: SCL says 2,200 customers have their power back, while 1,500 are still out.
6:12 PM: The map shows everyone else is back on too. (If you’re not, be sure to let City Light know!)
6:20 PM: Here’s what SCL tells us caused it: “It was caused by a compromised stem cable leading down into an underground feeder. Crews were able to isolate it and restore power.”
2:25 PM: Thanks for the tips. Big Seattle Fire response for a “major natural-gas leak” in west Admiral, 3300 block of 48th SW. They’re calling for traffic control on Admiral, though this is a few blocks south. Updates to come.
2:31 PM: SFD log has just made a big correction – this is actually in the 2300 block of 48th SW, so it’s NORTH of Admiral Way [map]. SFD just reported to dispatch that the leak has been shut off. The response is being downsized.
2:57 PM: Our crew is at the scene and confirmed that no one was hurt and the response is winding down. We’re told a construction crew breached the line, and they’re the ones who called it in. (added) Same area, by the way, as this 2-alarm fire in April.
(SPU-provided images)
The photo above shows the site of Seattle Public Utilities Pump Station 38 in the 1400 block of Alki SW [map]. An overhaul is in the works next year, with an art installation as part of it:
That’s the initial concept by artist Sarah Thompson Moore, who’s been commissioned for the work. This flyer has details, explaining that the inspiration is an old topographic map of Alki.
Right now, SPU is looking for feedback on both the art concept and the project itself, which is currently being designed. The project website explains, “SPU will convert the current pump station from an airlift type station to a more standard pump station. This conversion will improve service reliability, improve system performance, and reduce maintenance requirements and costs.” According to this overview, construction is expected to start early next year and could last up to a year; SPU tells us the project is estimated at $1.2 million, with the art project coming in around $50,000. You can answer the feedback survey by going here, by next Friday (August 14).
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