Thousands Plunged into Darkness: Squirrel Halts Power for 6,500 in Davis County

A serene Sunday morning in Davis County was abruptly interrupted for thousands of residents as a widespread power outage plunged parts of Farmington and Kaysville into darkness. Affecting an estimated 6,500 homes and businesses, the outage sparked concern and disrupted early routines, all thanks to an unexpected, tiny culprit.

The incident began around 7:25 AM, as reported by Rocky Mountain Power, the utility company serving the affected areas.

Residents awoke to silent homes, dark kitchens, and the sudden realization that their morning coffee plans might be put on hold. The scale of the outage quickly became apparent, with large sections of both Farmington and Kaysville reporting a complete loss of electricity.

While initial reports often leave residents speculating about the cause of such large-scale disruptions, Rocky Mountain Power swiftly identified the source: a squirrel.

These small, agile creatures are a surprisingly common cause of power outages when they interfere with electrical equipment, often at substations or power lines, leading to short circuits and system shutdowns.

Utility crews were immediately dispatched to the affected areas to assess the damage and begin the complex process of restoring power.

Given the early hour and the significant number of affected customers, Rocky Mountain Power worked diligently to isolate the fault and reroute power where possible, aiming to minimize the duration of the inconvenience for the thousands impacted.

By late morning to early afternoon, Rocky Mountain Power provided an estimated time for full restoration, offering a beacon of hope for those grappling with the sudden loss of modern conveniences.

The incident served as a stark reminder of the intricate infrastructure that powers our daily lives and how even the smallest of creatures can bring it to a temporary halt.