Electrical problems in Covina cause manhole cover explosion, power pole fire, outage


COVINA >> An underground equipment failure Covina on Saturday morning ripped a manhole cover from the street, caused a power pole to burst into flames and knocked out power to more than 2,000 homes and businesses, authorities said.
The problem involving an underground cable failure in the area of Covina Boulevard and Barranca Avenue was first reported about 8:20 a.m., Southern California Edison spokesman Paul Netter said. Slightly more than 2,000 customers were initially left in the dark, but all had their power restored by 10:35 a.m.
Police received reports about 8:40 p.m. that a power pole had burst into flames at Covina Boulevard and Glendora Avenue, Covina police Sgt. Tony Zavala said.
An apparent underground electrical vault explosion just after 10 a.m. blew off a manhole cover and ripped apart the street along Covina Boulevard, just east of Barranca Avenue, Zavala said.
The outage also affected area traffic signals both in Covina and neighboring Glendora, Zavala said.
No injuries or collisions were reported as a result of the incident.

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VIDEO courtesy of Lauren Gold, photo courtesy of the Covina Police Department.

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