Crews still restoring power in Queen Anne after bucket truck struck line, leaving worker stuck on crane

Seattle City Light (SCL) crews are still working to restore power in Queen Anne after a window contractor’s bucket truck hit a power line Wednesday, leaving the worker stranded and sparking a fire.

The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) were able to control the fire, but power won’t be restored until around 7 p.m., SCL stated on X.

City Light crews are still on scene of this morning’s incident in Queen Anne where a window contractor’s bucket truck connected with an overhead power line. SFD and PSE were able to control the resulting fire and safely secure the area. Estimated power restoration time: 7PM

— Seattle City Light (@SEACityLight) February 19, 2026

Queen Anne fire leaves worker stranded on crane

The fire was reportedly related to a natural gas leak and left a worker stranded on a crane. After more than four hours, SFD fully extinguished the fire, and PSE secured the natural gas line in the 1200 block of Queen Anne Avenue N. and N.W. Highland Drive, SFD reported.

“PSE crews were able to safely shut off the gas leak at 1:23 p.m. Gas was restored to all but one of the apartment buildings in the area,” a PSE spokesperson said in a statement to KIRO Newsradio. “Crews continue to survey the area this afternoon and will work overnight and into tomorrow morning to restore gas to the impacted buildings. SFD has allowed customers back into their homes.”

The fire initially broke out at approximately 9 a.m. Initial reports indicated that the fire was caused by an electrical issue at an apartment building after a nearby crane struck a power pole.

“A contractor was working on replacing some windows using an overhead bucket truck, and unfortunately, they made contact with an overhead line,” SCL media relations manager Jenn Strang told KIRO Newsradio. “Energy went through the truck into the ground, and there was believed to be some contact with another utility line. At that point, the person was up in the bucket truck and not able to get down.”

Strang noted that SCL responded to the scene to cut power for the neighborhood in order to safely retrieve the individual.

“Our crew was able to de-energize and ground the lines so that they were able to get the other person down,” Strang said. “There were about three city blocks that had to be de-energized at that point, and so we had about 500 customers out.”

SFD confirmed a vehicle in the area was on fire and leaking fuel. Crews doused the vehicle with water and foam to put out the fire.

KIRO Newsradio’s Manda Factor was previously on the scene filming as SFD crews worked.

Nearby apartment complex evacuated

At 9:11 a.m., a nearby apartment complex was completely evacuated.

The individual on the crane was stranded, several feet in the air, for more than two hours. At 11:32 a.m., firefighters safely rescued the crane operator from the lift. The operator did not report any injuries.

1200 block of Queen Anne Ave. N.: pic.twitter.com/WnRwUeXdeM

— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) February 18, 2026

A residential building adjacent to the fire was also evacuated out of an abundance of caution.

1200 block of Queen Anne Ave. N.: The residential building adjacent to the fire is being evacuated as a safety precaution. pic.twitter.com/xnLPAvMJ1A

— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) February 18, 2026

Strang applauded the quick response to the fire from multiple agencies, noting it could have gone in a much different direction without it.

“This is a great example of teamwork. When something like this happens, everyone jumps in and does their part, and they were able to stay on top of it and get the person out safely,” she said. “I’ve been doing this for several years, and I know how that could have ended up in a very different situation.”

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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