A power outage affecting a significant area of downtown Toronto, impacting around 7,000 customers, has been attributed to a raccoon. The disruption has been reported by Katherine DeClerq on CTVNewsToronto.ca.


February 02, 2024

In an unexpected turn of events, a raccoon became the unlikely culprit behind a significant power outage that plunged parts of downtown Toronto into darkness for several hours on Thursday night. The incident affected approximately 7,000 customers, leaving them without electricity as Hydro One reported that the mischievous raccoon had "made contact with equipment" at a downtown power station. The furry intruder's current condition remains unknown.

Toronto Hydro promptly responded to the outage, stating on social media specifying the affected areas, ranging from St. Clair Avenue W to Gerrard Street W and Avenue Road to the Don Valley Parkway. The utility company assured residents that they were working in collaboration with Hydro One to swiftly and safely restore power. Expressing gratitude for the public's patience, they emphasized their commitment to resolving the issue promptly.

According to Toronto Hydro's outage map, the disruption commenced around 7:40 p.m., casting parts of the city into darkness. Nearly three hours later, at approximately 10:30 p.m., power was fully restored, bringing relief to affected customers.

During the outage, emergency services, particularly the Toronto Fire Services, were inundated with elevator rescue calls. Seven incidents were reported, including elevators in buildings on Bloor, College, and Ontario streets. The power outage left occupants stranded in elevators, with Toronto Fire Capt. Deepak Chagger explained that smaller buildings or those with failed backup power systems were particularly vulnerable. Chagger emphasized the need for access to the trapped individuals or the restoration of power to resolve the elevator-related predicaments.

The incident prompted Torontonians to share their experiences on social media platforms, including photos and videos depicting the unusual sight of a darkened city at night. The unexpected and rare disruption sparked a wave of online discussions as residents navigated the challenges posed by the temporary blackout.

In a city accustomed to the hum of electricity, the raccoon-induced power outage served as a reminder of the unpredictable factors that can disrupt urban life. While the situation caused inconvenience and some tense moments, the restoration efforts by Toronto Hydro and Hydro One, coupled with the resilience of the affected residents, ultimately saw the return of normalcy to downtown Toronto.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

Trump Says Things With Canada Will Be Fine, But Tariffs Still Loom

U.S. President Donald Trump sounded hopeful about the relationship between his country and Canada after a phone call with Prime....

Liberal Candidate Apologizes For Bounty Remark On Conservative Rival

A Liberal candidate seeking re-election in a key GTA riding has apologized after making an inappropriate remark about a Chinese....

Partial Solar Eclipse To Dazzle Eastern Canada This Saturday

Eastern Canada will witness a stunning partial solar eclipse on Saturday morning. To catch the event, skywatchers will need to....

Trump Withdraws Elise Stefanik’s UN Ambassador Nomination

President Donald Trump has decided to cancel the nomination of New York Representative Elise Stefanik for the role of US....

Canadian PM warns of strained US-Canada ties over trade threats.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that the country must significantly cut its reliance on the US as their relationship....

Poilievre Promises TFSA Boost To Encourage Canadian Investment If Elected

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to increase the limit on tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) if he wins the upcoming....

Liberals Hold Strong Lead, But Conservatives Show Signs Of Recovery

The Liberal Party is holding a solid lead in the polls, with 48% of support compared to the Conservatives’ 36%.....

Canada’s Most Wanted Fugitive Dave Turmel Caught In Italy

Canada’s most wanted fugitive, Dave "Pik" Turmel, has been arrested in Italy, police sources confirmed. Turmel, 28, had been on....

Former floating McDonald's McBarge sinking Into Fraser River

A once-popular floating McDonald’s restaurant from Expo 86 is now sinking into the Fraser River. The vessel, known as the....

Severe Thunderstorms To Hit Western Washington, Including Seattle

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for western Washington until 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The storm could bring large....

Heavy Snowstorm To Hit Southern Manitoba This Week

Southern Manitoba is bracing for a heavy snowstorm expected to bring 10 to 20 centimetres of snow between Thursday and....

CSIS Claims India Backed Poilievre In 2022 Leadership Race

Canada’s intelligence agency has accused India of interfering in the 2022 Conservative Party leadership race by backing Pierre Poilievre. A....