Semi-Truck Sparks San Jose Power Shutdown

San Jose firefighters responded on May 21 to a semi-truck with a damaged axle that was at risk of rolling over near South First Street and East Alma Avenue, city officials said. The San Jose Fire Department said the truck could strike a nearby power pole, prompting PG&E to plan a precautionary shutoff in the area. Officials said the truck was carrying an estimated 78,000 pounds of scrap metal. The shutdown was expected to affect thousands of customers and keep nearby streets closed for hours. ### How did a disabled truck turn into a power emergency? The San Jose Fire Department said the initial call came in at 9:25 a.m. Thursday for a semi with a damaged axle at South First Street and East Alma Avenue. Fire officials said the vehicle was at risk of rolling over and damaging a power pole next to it. NBC Bay Area reported that the truck was carrying scrap metal and that PG&E was preparing to de-energize nearby lines as a precaution. (nbcbayarea.com) ABC7 reported that the truck was tilted in the roadway while emergency crews worked around it. That left responders balancing two risks at once: stabilizing a heavy vehicle and preventing contact with energized utility equipment, according to the reports. ### How many people were at risk of losing power? (nbcbayarea.com) PG&E’s planned shutoff was expected to affect about 7,000 to 8,000 customers, according to the San Jose Fire Department and NBC Bay Area. Fire officials said the outage was expected to last at least three hours. NBC Bay Area said the utility intended to shut down the lines as a precaution while crews dealt with the truck and the threatened pole. (abc7news.com) CBS News Bay Area also reported that power had been shut off to thousands after the truck came to rest next to the pole. The report said the incident had grown from a disabled-vehicle call into a broader utility and traffic problem by early afternoon. ### Which streets and buildings were affected nearby? South First Street and East Alma Avenue were the center of the closures, and officials urged drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes. (nbcbayarea.com) NBC Bay Area said traffic was affected around the intersection for several hours as fire, police, utility and transportation crews worked the scene. A Sacred Heart Community Service building next to the incident was evacuated as a precaution, according to NBC Bay Area. (cbsnews.com) The report did not say how long the evacuation would last, but officials said the building was cleared because of the truck’s position and the nearby utility hazard. ### Who was in charge at the scene? The San Jose Fire Department said it was operating in unified command with the San Jose Police Department, PG&E and the city’s Department of Transportation. (nbcbayarea.com) That meant fire crews were handling the immediate hazard, while police managed access and traffic, PG&E handled the electrical shutdown, and transportation staff supported road closures and detours. Local television reports described the response as ongoing through Thursday afternoon. None of the reports reviewed identified injuries tied to the truck incident. ### What should residents and drivers watch for next? PG&E said outage information is posted through its outage center, while local officials said drivers should continue avoiding the South First Street and East Alma Avenue area until the truck is secured and utility work is complete. (nbcbayarea.com) NBC Bay Area described the situation as developing, with details subject to change as crews continue operations. May 21 was the key date for the emergency response, and the next milestone was restoration of power after the truck was stabilized and the threatened lines were made safe. PG&E, the San Jose Fire Department and the San Jose Police Department were the named agencies handling those next steps. (nbcbayarea.com) (pge.com)