Thu Jul 17 03:10:00 UTC 2025: **Seattle’s Capitol Hill Hit by Major Power Outage, Tree Blamed**
Seattle, WA – Nearly 10,000 Seattle City Light customers in North Capitol Hill, North Broadway, and along the eastern edge of 23rd Ave faced a widespread power outage Monday afternoon. The outage, first reported around 3 PM, was traced to downed wires near Lakeview Blvd E, reportedly caused by a large tree falling onto power lines.
911 callers reported an exploded transformer and sparking wires in the 1300 block of Lakeview Blvd E. The Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene to ensure public safety before City Light crews could begin repairs.
City Light initially estimated restoration by 6 PM, but the repair work took longer than expected. By 4:35 PM, the number of affected customers was halved, but a core area between I-5 and Broadway remained without power.
Repairs were finally completed just after 10 PM. The incident forced many North Broadway businesses to close early.
The outage has sparked discussion among residents about the vulnerability of the neighborhood’s above-ground power grid, particularly in northern sections. Some residents questioned why certain areas experience more frequent outages than others.
City Light has not yet released a statement regarding the frequency of outages in the area or any planned upgrades to the power grid.
First Piper 