LEWISTON – The Lewiston Fire Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident into a power pole and brush fire at 10th Street and Stewart Avenue at approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 8, 2023. First arriving crews found a vehicle that had run into the support structure of several large power poles. A small brush fire was burning around the base of the poles and the occupant was out of the vehicle. Medical personnel attended to the patient, fire crews extinguished the brush fire, and the vehicle was secured. The area was secured due to damage to multiple power poles in the area.
An Avista power substation was nearby and power was out to a large portion of the Orchards and Downtown area. Fire crews responded to several fire alarms and two elevator entrapments due to the power outage. Avista arrived to restore power and the accident investigation was turned over to Lewiston Police Department.
The department responded to these calls with three structural engines, three ambulances, and one chief officer for a total of 16 personnel.
The cause of the fire was arcing power lines due to the motor vehicle accident. Fire damage was limited to grass and weeds in the immediate area. No firefighter injuries to report.