Thousands of East County residents got an unwelcome wake-up call today when the lights went out before sunrise, cutting power to more than 5,000 San Diego Gas & Electric customers from Granite Hills to east El Cajon. The California Highway Patrol issued a Sig Alert shortly before 6 AM after reports of a transformer fire near Pepper Drive and Winter Gardens Boulevard in Bostonia. SDG&E crews moved in quickly and offered a tentative restoration estimate of 8 a.m., although officials said the exact cause of the outage was still under investigation.
What officials reported
According to FOX5 San Diego, early SDG&E figures showed roughly 3,192 homes and businesses without electricity in the Granite Hills, Bostonia and east El Cajon area, with another 2,087 customers out in Blossom Valley and El Monte. FOX5 shared morning images of crews clustered around the reported transformer fire in Bostonia while utility and emergency teams worked to secure the site. Local coverage noted that crews were isolating affected circuits to keep repairs controlled and safe.
Utility response and safety advice
Per SDG&E, the utility dispatched crews to the affected area while it worked to confirm whether the transformer fire and the wider outage were directly connected. SDG&E's online outage center listed the impacted service zones and provided an initial estimated restoration time of 8 AM. Customers who depend on powered medical devices were reminded to follow their backup plans and to contact SDG&E to report outages and needs.
Traffic and neighborhood impacts
The CHP Sig Alert slowed the early commute near Pepper Drive and Winter Gardens Boulevard as lanes were restricted and drivers navigated around parked utility rigs. Motorists reported delays while emergency and SDG&E trucks staged along the roadway. FOX5 San Diego's coverage showed both emergency responders and utility crews on scene. Officials urged residents to steer clear of the immediate area and to avoid any downed or sparking electrical equipment.
How to stay informed
Customers can monitor updates through SDG&E's outage center or by calling 1-800-411-7343 for the latest information on specific circuits and restoration timelines. Residents are encouraged to sign up for outage alerts using SDG&E's notification tools and to report hazards as soon as they see them. Anyone who encounters downed power lines or sparking gear should assume it is live and call 9-1-1 immediately.
Crews were expected to keep working through the morning, with SDG&E and local authorities planning to adjust restoration estimates as they gather more information. This story will be updated as new details are released.
