A massive power failure has paralyzed nearly a third of San Francisco on Saturday, forcing transit shutdowns and dimming holiday festivities. Here is what we know about the fire that sparked the chaos and when power might return.

A massive power outage swept through San Francisco on Saturday, plunging approximately 130,000 homes and businesses into darkness and triggering citywide travel warnings.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) confirmed that the blackout affected nearly 30% of its customers in the city. While the utility stabilized the grid by late afternoon, the disruption left a chaotic scene in its wake: darkened traffic signals, stalled trains, and abruptly shuttered shops during the holiday rush.

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What was the reason behind the outage?

PG&E did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reason for the blackout, AP reported. However, officials stated that at least some of the outages were related to a fire inside a PG&E substation at 8th and Mission streets.

Fire officials started posting about it at 3:15 pm. According to a report by the San Francisco Standard, the fire department received a call at 2:16 pm, and it was later confirmed that the fire was completely contained, no injuries or structural damage were reported.

When will the power be restored?

PG&E has assured residents that it has stabilised the power grid and is not expecting any more customer outages, AP stated. But the firm also could not confirm whether power would be restored later on Saturday. 

As the outage continues, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management cautioned residents, “We are experiencing citywide power outages. Please stay home if you can, avoid unnecessary travel, and check on neighbours safely.” The official post on X also mentioned that service and restoration are available through PG&E’s outage tools. 

For people without electricity, the agency advised precautions like “Keep fridge/freezer doors closed to prevent food spoilage” and “turn off major appliances to prevent surges when power comes back on.” 

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It also warned not to use gas stoves, generators, or grills indoors because of carbon dioxide risks. In terms of emergency calls, it added, “If you are experiencing a medical, fire or police emergency, call on 911. Or, save 911 for life safety emergency calls.” 

The outage also resulted in major commuting issues. The Department of Emergency Management stated there were “significant transit disruptions” and urged people to avoid nonessential travel and consider non-working traffic signals as four-way stops.

As per a report by AP, the city transport agencies were not stopping at BART and Muni stations because of the outage. The San Francisco Standard report mentioned that underground Muni stations were closed, and trains were not entering.