A fast-moving brush fire along the Cushman Trail near Stinson Avenue on Sunday cut electricity to about 22,000 Peninsula Light Company customers across the south Kitsap Peninsula, leaving much of Gig Harbor, the Key Peninsula and nearby Pierce County neighborhoods in the dark. The outage dragged into the afternoon as fire crews battled the blaze and utility workers secured overhead lines, while residents reported scattered disruptions to services and communications.
Officials say crews are on scene
Peninsula Light Company confirmed the widespread outage and said crews were responding after a fire was reported along the popular trail, according to KING 5. Firefighters focused on containing the brush fire while utility teams worked to isolate affected overhead equipment and keep the public at a safe distance. Local agencies coordinated on traffic control, safety checks and restoration planning so power could come back on as soon as conditions allowed.
Outage monitors show the scale
Third-party outage trackers captured the size of the blackout in near real time. Outage Pro showed roughly 22,903 Peninsula Light customers without power late Sunday afternoon, reflecting live data feeds from the utility. Those totals shifted through the day as individual circuits were repaired and brought back online.
Neighborhoods hit by outages
The outage footprint sprawled across much of south Kitsap, reaching Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula and triggering multiple substation-level interruptions. Neighborhoods including Canterwood, Artondale and Longbranch saw significant impacts, according to maps from MyGridCheck. Crews prioritized heavily populated substations first, restoring power in stages to avoid stressing the system as lines and equipment were re-energized. Officials asked residents to steer clear of the Cushman Trail area while suppression and repair work continued.
How residents can get updates
Peninsula Light Company posts restoration estimates and outage maps on its online viewer, and customers are encouraged to report outages and check status there for the most current information. For live tracking of the PenLight system, see the utility’s outage map at Peninsula Light Company. Customers who rely on powered medical equipment are advised to contact the utility about priority assistance. Utilities also urge residents to unplug sensitive electronics and keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to protect appliances and preserve food during multi-hour outages.
Context: fire season and local infrastructure
The incident comes as Kitsap County circulates seasonal guidance on burn safety and wildfire risk, with officials warning that dry conditions make brush fires more likely and more dangerous. Nearby facilities such as the Tacoma Narrows Airport are monitored for any power-related service interruptions during large outages, and Pierce County and regional partners remained ready to support response efforts. Residents can review burn restrictions and safety tips from Kitsap County and find additional infrastructure details through Pierce County.
