A pre-work jolt of the wrong kind hit Kent on Monday morning when a transformer blew near Chase Park, cutting electricity to nearly 2,000 residents and throwing parts of the city into an unexpected blackout. Much of the east side and portions of the south side went dark as businesses scrambled for backup options and commuters navigated traffic signals that suddenly went offline. Police and utility crews moved in quickly, and officials urged everyone to steer clear of any downed lines or sparks.
Outage details and response
According to FirstEnergy, the company’s outage map showed 1,894 customers without power, with an estimated restoration time of about 9:30 a.m. Crews were dispatched to track down the problem and get repairs underway.
Where the damage occurred and safety warnings
As reported by WKYC, the transformer failure happened near Chase Park in Franklin Township. Kent police said the outage is affecting the east side and parts of the south side and reminded residents to stay at least 30 feet away from any downed power lines or visible sparks. Chase Park is located on Rhodes Road between State Route 59 and Horning Road, according to Franklin Township.
How to report outages and stay safe
FirstEnergy is asking customers without service to report outages by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), texting OUT to 544487, or using its online outage map. Residents are urged not to touch any fallen wires and to call 911 right away if they see sparks, flames, or other immediate hazards, police said.
Why this matters
The blowout comes amid a run of local outages that have put a spotlight on FirstEnergy’s reliability and follows a regulatory settlement and refunds issued earlier this year. Scandal refund details have fueled calls from local leaders for faster repairs and clearer communication when the lights go out yet again.
