Downtown storm damage: who's really to blame?

A series of post-storm fires sparks finger-pointing — what does National Grid have to say?

Staff of Whitman Brewing Company wait for the Saratoga Springs Fire Department to give them the all-clear on Saturday July 5, 2025. (File: Steve Thurston)

The storm that blew through quickly on Thursday July 10, dumping rain and some hail, not only caused power outages and blew a tree into the Adirondack Northway — blocking two lanes and shutting down the highway at Exit 14 — it has been responsible for some serious longer-term damage at a number of local businesses downtown. Now, they wonder just how much their power company, National Grid, was responsible for it.

At least four business owners who talked to the Dispatch about this have said the damage was much worse than simply the power being out from Thursday evening into the day Friday.

Potentially-dangerous fires, faulty equipment — who’s to blame?