Camano Island blackout after tractor topples main transmission pole

All of Camano Island lost power the morning of January 15 after a tractor knocked over the island’s main transmission pole on the eastern side of the Mark Clark Bridge. The outage began about 8:45 a.m. and was resolved by 11:40 a.m., according to Snohomish County Public Utility District officials. The felled pole supplies electricity to roughly 10,750 customers on the island, leaving homes and businesses without service until utility crews completed repairs and safety checks.

Snohomish PUD crews were dispatched immediately to isolate the damage, repair the transmission pole and restore service. Local officials and utility spokespeople directed residents to report outages through the PUD’s outage reporting channels and to exercise caution around downed power lines or damaged poles. The pole’s location at the bridge approach meant the outage affected the island’s primary link to the mainland, complicating access for response crews and underscoring the strategic vulnerability of that transmission route.

The limited-duration but islandwide blackout had immediate effects on daily life for islanders. Residents dependent on electric heating, refrigeration or medical equipment faced short-term disruptions; businesses experienced interruptions during peak morning hours; and traffic and safety concerns rose as signals and lighting were affected. Even brief outages can strain small community services and highlight disparities in individual emergency preparation.

Beyond immediate impacts, the incident points to broader infrastructure and emergency-management questions. A single transmission pole serving more than 10,000 customers represents a concentration of risk, particularly where lines cross critical access points such as the Mark Clark Bridge. The incident raises issues about redundancy, pole placement near transport corridors and contractor or equipment operations close to transmission structures. Island County officials, emergency planners and the PUD may consider reviewing protections for high-consequence poles, permitting and notification procedures for heavy equipment working near utility infrastructure, and communications protocols for faster public updates during outages.

For island residents, practical steps are clear: report outages through the PUD’s channels, keep distance from any downed lines, and follow safety guidance from local authorities. The event is a reminder to refresh household emergency plans, check backup power options for critical needs, and watch for follow-up information from the PUD and county officials.

The outage has been repaired, but the episode leaves local policymakers and utility managers with a visible example of how a single accident can ripple across the island’s daily life and infrastructure. Residents should expect ongoing conversations about how to reduce similar risks and strengthen resilience for future incidents.