Over 2,500 Without Power After Transformer Explosions in Central Bellingham

BELLINGHAM, WA — More than 2,500 residents were left without power in the early hours of Thanksgiving Day apparently following a series of large transformer explosions near the intersection of Sunset Drive and Woburn Street. The blasts, which occurred just before the turn onto Hannegan Road, startled many in the East Central Bellingham area and left a widespread power outage stretching from Grant Street to Woburn Street.

According to Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) outage map, the number of affected customers rose to 2,560 as of 1:05 a.m., with crews dispatched to assess and resolve the issue.

The original 911 call regarding this incident came in at approximately 12:21 am according to Whatcom County’s fire and EMS feeds listed on the PulsePoint mobile app.

Exclusive videos obtained by Bellingham Metro News show the intense flashes and booming sounds as the transformers failed. Bryce Tousignant, a nearby resident who captured the footage, described the chaotic moment: “MAN, I WAS WATCHING DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER when the explosions went off.”

Others shared similar accounts of the powerful blasts. K.J, who lives just 20 feet away from the incident, said, “I’ve seen this happen twice, across the street from my house. The entire house shook with each explosion, and there were underground power surges that made the house vibrate. Pretty scary when you’re that close.”

Tylor Evans, another local, shocked at the sheer force of the explosions, noting, “This shows the awesome power of electricity and just how much force it puts out.”

Photos taken by Bryce’s brother, William Tousignant, reveal the Bellingham Police Department and Fire Department securing the area. Emergency crews established a perimeter around the live wires, and that stretch of road is expected to remain closed until the damage is repaired.

Puget Sound Energy advises customers to check its outage map for the latest updates and detailed information on restoration efforts.

Stay tuned to Bellingham Metro News for updates on this developing story.

For visuals and exclusive footage of the explosions, visit our social media pages such as our Facebook page.