Squirrel Causes Widespread Power Outages, Fire in Auburn

Thousands lost electricity across Placer and Nevada counties on Easter Sunday after a squirrel damaged a PG&E utility pole.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 8:40pm

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A squirrel's contact with a PG&E utility pole in Auburn, California, caused a fire and widespread power outages affecting over 20,000 customers across Placer and Nevada counties on Easter Sunday. The Auburn Police Department and Fire Department responded to the incident, extinguishing the vegetation fire and determining the squirrel had damaged a glass insulator, igniting nearby plants.

Why it matters

Power outages can have significant impacts on communities, disrupting daily life, affecting businesses, and posing risks to vulnerable populations. This incident highlights the potential for wildlife to inadvertently cause equipment failures and spark dangerous fires, underscoring the need for utility companies to implement measures to protect infrastructure and prevent such occurrences.

The details

According to the Auburn Police Department, officers responded to a vegetation fire near Landis Circle and Elm Avenue around 10:49 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Auburn Fire Department crews quickly extinguished the fire and determined that a squirrel had come into contact with a PG&E utility pole, damaging a glass insulator and causing it to ignite the surrounding vegetation. PG&E confirmed the squirrel was the cause of the equipment damage.

  • The incident occurred around 10:49 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.
  • By 11:30 a.m., the PG&E outage map showed over 20,000 customers had lost power across Placer and Nevada counties.
  • As of 1:30 p.m., most of the outages had been cleared.

The players

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)

A major utility company that provides electricity and natural gas to customers across Northern and Central California.

Auburn Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the incident and assisted in the investigation.

Auburn Fire Department

The local fire department that extinguished the vegetation fire and determined the cause of the incident.

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What they’re saying

“No structures were injured in the fire and no injuries have been reported.”

— Auburn Police Department

What’s next

PG&E will likely investigate the incident further to assess any necessary upgrades or modifications to its infrastructure to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder of the potential for wildlife to inadvertently cause significant disruptions to power systems and the importance of utility companies working to protect their equipment and minimize the risk of such events.