Pacific Power Outage Affects 2,000-plus Portlanders

PORTLAND, OR — More than 2,000 Pacific Power customers in downtown and North Portland are still without power this morning.

According to Portland Fire & Rescue officials, the power outage was caused by an underground electric vault fire, which initially cause smoke to come from grates in the roadway in the Northwest Park Blocks area. Visible smoke was first reported before 6:15 p.m., PF&R officials said, though Pacific Power reported the first power outages shortly after 5:45 p.m.

An electric vault is where power junctions that connect utility lines are located, according to Pacific Power spokesman Tom Gauntt. The vault allows access to the grid from one location.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Gauntt told Patch Tuesday morning, noting the specific area where work is being done to restore power is around Northeast Couch Street and Northeast Eighth Avenue.

"Work to repair damage and get folks back online is underway," he said, adding that power may not be completely restored until 9 p.m. Tuesday. Gauntt said updates would be provided throughout the day.

The outage is affecting much of the downtown area North of the Morrison Bridge, according to the Pacific Power outage map. Anyone traveling downtown Tuesday should expect non-functioning traffic signals, delayed bus and TriMet routes, and some closed businesses.

Some of the affected areas Gauntt said, are a result of residual shutoffs to allow crews an opportunity to safely repair the damaged lines. More than 50 people are actively working to restore power, Gauntt said, including Portland General Electric crews who are assisting with the repairs.

The Portland Art Museum and Multnomah County Library will both be closed due to the outages.

More customer information is available at www.pacificpower.net, or by calling 888-221-7070.

This post has been updated with information from Pacific Power spokesman Tom Gauntt.

Photo Courtesy: Pacific Power