Substation fire in southeast Portland disrupts power to thousands
Nov 2022Published 29 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Portland General Electric
What happened
Fire crews were sent to a substation fire along Southeast 60th Avenue and Southeast Stark Street in Portland on the evening of 4 November 2022. Portland General Electric said the fire had left at least 3,000 customers without power. Nearby streets were closed and traffic was diverted. The fire stayed inside the fenced substation and did not spread to surrounding structures. No injuries were reported. The cause was not clear.
Contributing factors
The cause of the fire was not reported.
Lessons learned
- Electrical substation fires call for a slow and cautious fire-service approach, as Portland Fire & Rescue said it would use here.
- A fire that stays inside the substation fence can still cut supply to thousands of customers and close nearby streets.
- Where the cause is not known in the first report, later updates should not treat that gap as a finding.
More lessons on theft, arson and site security, from every incident on the register.
Source
Other entries that name Portland
Published 2026-09-29. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
