An unexpected power outage hit parts of San Francisco on Sunday night after a Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) transformer caught fire in the Richmond District. The incident left more than 11,000 customers without electricity, affecting homes, businesses, and public infrastructure.
Transformer Fire Triggers Unplanned Power Cut
According to fire officials, the transformer fire was reported around 7:45 p.m. near the intersection of 12th Avenue and Balboa Street. San Francisco firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and secured the area to ensure public safety until PG&E crews were able to take over.
At the time of reporting, officials had not released additional information about what caused the transformer to catch fire.
Areas Impacted by the Power Outage
The outage affected several well-known parts of the city. PG&E’s outage map showed that customers in the Richmond District, Golden Gate Park, and the Presidio were without power. The sudden blackout also caused traffic signals to stop working, creating safety concerns for drivers and pedestrians.
Estimated Power Restoration Time
PG&E estimated that electricity would be fully restored by around 1:45 a.m. on Monday. Crews worked through the night to repair the damaged equipment and safely reconnect customers to the power grid.
Outage Comes During Generator-to-Grid Transition
This latest outage occurred at a challenging time for Richmond residents. PG&E had already planned to move customers from temporary generators back to regular grid power. The generators had been installed earlier in the week following a major outage on December 20.
That earlier outage was one of the largest in recent months, leaving up to 130,000 homes and businesses across San Francisco without electricity at its peak. The temporary generators were used to provide backup power, but many residents complained about the constant noise.
City Agencies Respond to the Emergency
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management confirmed that the unplanned outage caused traffic signals to go dark in affected areas. City officials monitored the situation closely to reduce risks and keep residents informed.
Conclusion
The transformer fire in San Francisco’s Richmond District caused yet another disruption for residents already dealing with recent power issues. While PG&E worked to restore service overnight, the incident highlights ongoing challenges with aging infrastructure and the need for reliable power solutions in the city.
