PORT ANGELES – A fire Sunday evening damaged a fiber optic internet line and an electrical transformer, causing widespread internet and phone outages across Port Angeles. The disruption is impacting city services, including credit card payments at City Hall and the transfer station.
The Port Angeles Fire Department responded to the blaze at approximately 6:14 p.m. in the 700 block of East First Street. Firefighters found tires burning inside a Dumpster positioned about 5 feet from a building, with flames beginning to spread to the building’s exterior. Crews successfully extinguished the fire, preventing it from entering the structure.
Heat and flames from the dumpster fire extended to a nearby power pole, damaging a transformer and an Astound Broadband fiber line. No injuries were reported.
As of Monday, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The city stated that the outage is preventing credit card transactions at City Hall and the Blue Mountain transfer station. Residents can still pay utility bills and other fees with cash, check, or money order.
All internet access and phone service at city facilities are affected.Astound Broadband has not yet provided an estimated time for service restoration. The Blue Mountain transfer station is closed Monday and Tuesday for Veterans Day.
While Peninsula Communications has a backup system for 911 calls, allowing dispatchers to serve first responders, its business phone lines are unable to send or receive calls. astound technicians are reportedly on-site working to repair the damaged fiber line.
Nine Port Angeles Fire department personnel and two from Clallam county Fire District 2, including a chief officer, responded to the fire. Olympic Ambulance, Port Angeles City Light, and the Port Angeles Police Department also provided support.
