By RICK BEASLEY, Depoe Bay Beacon
Special to Lincoln City Homepage
A power line weakened by gusts from an approaching storm upended the small coast city of Depoe Bay Thursday, January 11 when a fallen live overhead wire set fire to cars at an auto repair shop.
Electricity to about half the town was abruptly curtailed at about 2:45p.m. when the power line fell into the parking lot of Car Audio 101 at 473 SW Hwy 101.
The businesses parking lot was jammed with vehicles awaiting service. Traffic on Highway 101 was brought to a standstill, as was internet service.
The owner of the business tried to subdue the initial blaze with a fire extinguisher but was driven back by the sparking powerline.
A city official who closed the nearby city hall after the blackout said it took 25 minutes for fire trucks to arrive.
Though a fire station was within 100 yards of the incident, all fire department personnel from the Depoe Bay Fire District were at the Gleneden Beach station, about six miles away.
Finally, upon arrival, firefighters had to stand by until power was cut off by the local utility company.
See video here
