Power Line Incident Prompts Brief Highway 207 Closure West of Boardman

Local drivers experienced a brief disruption this afternoon as a section of Highway 207 west of Boardman was temporarily closed due to downed power lines. The incident, reported shortly after 1:30 PM, occurred near the intersection with Feedville Road, a rural stretch used by commuters and agricultural transport alike.

Morrow County Sheriff’s deputies and crews from Umatilla Electric Cooperative responded swiftly to the scene. Initial reports indicated that high winds, which have been gusting across the Columbia River plateau all day, likely caused a utility pole to lean, bringing live wires down across both lanes of the highway.

“Safety is our absolute priority in these situations,” said Deputy Sheriff Carla Reyes, who assisted with traffic control. “We had to close the road completely until the utility crew could confirm the lines were de-energized and secure. We appreciate the public’s patience while we worked to get the hazard cleared.”

Detours were established using nearby county roads, though officials advised adding extra travel time for the duration of the closure. The quick response from Umatilla Electric crews meant the highway was reopened to traffic in just under two hours, with power restored to the handful of affected rural customers shortly thereafter.

The incident serves as a reminder for Boardman-area motorists to always treat downed power lines as live and dangerous. Authorities urge anyone encountering a similar hazard to stay far back and immediately call 911 or the local utility provider.