During Massive Power Outage, Cleveland Public Power Gets Owned by Reporter Ed Gallek

Yesterday, a fire at the Cleveland Public Power W. 41st Street substation caused a massive power outage on Cleveland's west side. In a press release, the city estimated that roughly 40,000 customers were without power.

It was, for the record, the day after Christmas and temperatures were dipping into the single digits.

CPP crews completed an "interim repair," which has restored power for the time being. The public utility says it's working to develop a "permanent solution."

Fox 8's Ed Gallek was the first to report the outage, and Tweeted (correctly) that its cause was a fire. He erroneously called the W. 41st Street substation a "power plant."
 

CPP power plant on fire--power out on parts of Cleveland's west side

— Ed Gallek (@edgallekfox8) December 26, 2017

Cleveland Public Power denied the report.

The reports of a fire in a station are not accurate. We will give you a cause as soon as we can.

— ClevelandPublicPower (@clepublicpower) December 26, 2017

And picked nits with Gallek's wording.

@edgallekfox8 we do not have a power plant. Your tweet is inaccurate.

— ClevelandPublicPower (@clepublicpower) December 26, 2017

Other users, naturally pissed at CPP for the outage, noted the spin.

Aka fire at the substation

— Shawn (@killum1nati7) December 26, 2017

Shortly thereafter, CPP 'fessed up.

Our W.41st St Substation suffered a fire and power has been knocked out to the Westside. Approximately 40k ppl without power. Crews working feverishly to restore power but it's going to take a while.

— ClevelandPublicPower (@clepublicpower) December 27, 2017

Ed Gallek emerged triumphant.

CPP first said report of a fire was not accurate then confirmed fire after I TEAM sent this video taken by a FOX 8 viewer. pic.twitter.com/ozqW3F9cRR

— Ed Gallek (@edgallekfox8) December 27, 2017