A major underground electrical vault fire on the evening of July 16 left more than 21,000 Seattle City Light customers without power in North Seattle. The incident, which occurred near the Northgate and Victory Heights neighborhoods, forced utility crews to shut down several feeder lines as a precautionary measure. Initial estimates cited around 4,400 outages, but the number rapidly climbed as the impact spread across the grid.
Seattle City Light responded swiftly, deploying crews to the affected area to contain the fire and begin assessments. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the underground nature of the incident posed challenges in reaching and addressing the damaged infrastructure.
Power Restoration and Remaining Outages
By 9:30 p.m., Seattle City Light restored power to the majority of affected customers, reconnecting around 15,000 homes and businesses. However, smaller outages persisted in areas like Capitol Hill, where about 1,084 customers remained in the dark late into the night.
Seattle City Light explained that restoring underground power systems takes time due to safety protocols and the complexity of the infrastructure. Crews deactivated additional feeder lines to ensure a safe working environment, slightly delaying the restoration process.
Officials continued to update residents via their online outage map and social media, urging them to report outages and avoid downed lines. Restoration timelines varied by neighborhood, with full service expected in the early hours of July 17.
Impact on Communities and Broader Context
The outage disrupted daily life in several neighborhoods, including Victory Heights, Northgate, Laurelhurst, Windermere, and Capitol Hill. Local businesses reported interruptions, while residents took to social media to share updates and vent frustrations. A Reddit user tracking the incident noted that over 21,000 homes lost power, and restoration was projected around 2:30 a.m.
This outage follows a smaller incident on July 14 that affected nearly 10,000 customers in Capitol Hill and Eastlake due to a fallen tree striking a power pole. However, the July 16 event was far more complex, highlighting the particular vulnerabilities of Seattle’s underground power infrastructure.
Seattle City Light stressed that safety remains its top priority and that shutdowns of broader circuits were necessary to prevent further hazards during repairs. Officials encouraged residents to keep appliances off during outages and to use battery-powered lighting to reduce risk when power returns.
The North Seattle power outage serves as a reminder of the challenges aging infrastructure can pose, especially when underground systems are involved. While City Light crews worked swiftly and safely to restore power, the event underscored the importance of robust emergency response and public communication in maintaining citywide energy reliability.
