VIDEO/PHOTOS: Portland Fire & Rescue say a large tree fell onto some powerlines, knocking out power to hundreds in a Northeast Portland neighborhood and the downed lines caught a car on fire. It happened at the same time crews were on scene of a separate vegetation fire just eight blocks away caused by a downed wire.
The tree fell at around 5 a.m. near Northeast 17th Avenue and Buffalo Street due to “saturated soil.” It landed in elevated power lines, knocking out power for about 422 customers, according to Pacific Power. Power was restored later that morning. Neighbors in the area said they were woken up to what sounded like explosions.
“It was about 5 a.m. when I just heard this big boom,” neighbor Draven Killian said. “First it sounded like branches were falling, and then there was an explosion.” The powerlines came down just in front of Bill Weismann’s home, where sparks were flying from the wire on the ground.
