On Sunday morning, Eugene residents discovered that the city’s 911 phone lines, including the non‑emergency number, were completely offline. The outage began just after 7 a.m., prompting the Eugene Police Department to advise callers to use the newly‑implemented text‑to‑911 service while technicians worked to diagnose the problem.

Investigation points to copper wire theft

Police officials said early indications point to a theft of copper wiring as the likely cause of the disruption. While the investigation remains ongoing, no further details have been released at this time. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the theft to come forward.

Backup communications and restoration

During the outage, the department activated a temporary backup system that allowed residents to send emergency messages via text. This measure ensured that critical calls could still be received and routed to first‑responders despite the loss of voice service.

By approximately 2:30 p.m., technicians reported that the 911 phone lines were back online and fully operational. The police department confirmed that all services had been restored and thanked the community for its patience.Local officials emphasized the importance of protecting critical infrastructure, noting that copper theft not only endangers public safety communications but also imposes costly repairs on municipalities. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and swift response when essential services are compromised.

What residents can do

Residents who experience future disruptions are encouraged to use the text‑to‑911 option, which is available on most modern smartphones. The city plans to review its emergency communication protocols to ensure redundancy and resilience against similar incidents.

For any tips related to the suspected copper theft, callers can reach the Eugene Police Department’s tip line at (541) 682‑5555.

Original reporting: KPTV FOX 12 Portland (news) — read the source article.