Police investigating a series of vandalism incidents at electrical substations in Washington state that knocked out power for thousands on Christmas Day now say a fourth facility was targeted. 

The incidents in the Tacoma area come just weeks after more than 40,000 people lost power in North Carolina when two substations in Moore County were hit with gunfire. A sheriff there described the acts as "intentional vandalism." 

"At 7:21 pm, on December 25th, 2022, dispatchers received a call of a fire at the Puget Sound Energy substation at 14320 Kapowsin Hwy E. Deputies, Firefighters and Puget Sound Energy employees responded to the scene," the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. 

"The fire was extinguished and the substation secured. Power was knocked out for homes in Kapowsin and Graham," the statement continued. "The suspect(s) gained access to the fenced area and vandalized the equipment which caused the fire." 

WASHINGTON BURGLARS TAKE OUT THREE POWER SUBSTATIONS ON CHRISTMAS 

One of the power substations in Graham, Washington, that was targeted on Christmas Day, according to police. (Google Maps)

The sheriff’s office described the fire as "the 4th incident at a Power Substation in South Pierce County on Christmas Day," which ultimately resulted in around 14,000 people losing power. 

"We do not have any suspects in custody," it also said. "It is unknown if there are any motives or if this was a coordinated attack on the power systems." 

FEDERAL MEMO FLAGS WASHINGTON, OREGON SUBSTATION ATTACKS SIMILAR TO MOORE COUNTY 

Earlier, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said it responded to a call of a burglary at a Tacoma Public Utilities Substation on 46th Avenue around 5:30 a.m. on Christmas morning. 

A Tacoma Public Utilities Substation that the Pierce County Sheriff's Department says was vandalized on Christmas. (Google Maps)

When deputies arrived, they saw evidence that a fenced area was broken into and equipment was vandalized, causing a power outage in the area. 

Another burglary was reported later that morning at a Tacoma Public Utilities' substation on 224th Street, again with forced entry and damage to the equipment, and nothing stolen from the scene. 

Workers repair a substation in Moore County, North Carolina, that was targeted with gunfire in early December. (Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE WHD News APP 

At 11:25 a.m. a third burglary was reported by Puget Sound Energy at another one of their facilities. 

WHD News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report.