News Summary
A major power outage in San Bernardino affected 17,000 customers, leading to the closure of 14 schools in the San Bernardino City Unified School District. The outage, caused by a locomotive striking electrical equipment, raised safety concerns amid high temperatures. Although power was restored by noon, disruptions continued with non-working traffic lights, and emergency responses were activated. Parents were informed to pick up their children promptly, with classes expected to resume the following day if conditions allow.
Power Outage in San Bernardino Causes School Closures for Thousands of Students
Major Power Disruption Affects Thousands in San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California — A significant power outage on Tuesday morning impacted approximately 17,000 customers across San Bernardino. The disruption prompted the closure of 14 public schools within the San Bernardino City Unified School District, affecting thousands of students and leading to safety concerns amid rising temperatures.
Cause of the Outage and Immediate Response
The outage was first reported around 5 a.m. and was traced back to an incident involving a locomotive striking electrical grid equipment. Officials confirmed that a BNSF Railway locomotive collided with a transmission line in the rail yard on 4th Street, causing the power failure. Emergency responders, including the San Bernardino County Fire Department, responded to the scene and verified that no injuries had occurred.
Southern California Edison (SCE), the primary electricity provider in the region, confirmed that all power was restored by noon on Tuesday. A spokesman indicated that there appeared to be multiple reports of outages in San Bernardino County, with five separate outages listed on Edison’s outage website, all initially reported at 5:08 a.m. However, these reports may have been affected by a data entry error.
Impact on Schools and Safety Concerns
The San Bernardino City Unified School District announced that 14 of its schools would be closed on Tuesday due to the power outage and the forecasted high temperatures, which were expected to reach the high 90s and triple digits. The district cited safety considerations, particularly since many classrooms lacked proper ventilation and cooling systems, making it unsafe for students to remain in the buildings during the heat.
The affected schools included Chávez, Salinas, Shandin Hills, Kendall Complex, Holcomb, Hillside, North Park, Cajon High School, Palm, Vermont, North Verdemont, Kimbark, Newmark, and Muscoy campuses. Despite the closures, most of the district’s schools remained operational during the outage; staff ensured safety measures to protect students in open or unaffected areas.
Additional Public Infrastructure and Emergency Responses
Beyond schools, other public services faced disruptions. Traffic lights, especially in northern San Bernardino, were not functioning due to the power outage, causing traffic congestion and requiring police officers to assist with traffic control. Law enforcement officials reported that streetlights and stoplights in affected areas were temporarily out of service.
St. Bernardine Medical Center continued to operate normally throughout the outage, ensuring ongoing patient care without interruption.
Historical Context and Community Response
This incident marked the second consecutive day that power outages have affected local schools in San Bernardino County. Previously, classes were canceled in the Bear Valley Unified School District due to similar outages, raising ongoing concerns about the stability of the electrical infrastructure in the region.
Parents were promptly notified about school closures and were advised to pick up their children as quickly as possible once the outage was confirmed. District officials expect classes to resume as usual on Wednesday, contingent on the resolution of any ongoing issues.
Summary of Key Facts
- Location: San Bernardino, California
- Time of incident: Around 5 a.m. Tuesday
- Cause: Collision of a locomotive with electrical grid equipment
- Number of customers affected: Approximately 17,000
- Duration of power restoration: By noon on Tuesday
- Schools closed: 14 schools within San Bernardino City Unified School District
- Temperature forecast: High 90s to triple digits, prompting safety concerns
- Additional disruptions: Non-functioning traffic lights in parts of northern San Bernardino
- Public services unaffected: St. Bernardine Medical Center operated normally
- Community response: Schools and parents coordinated to ensure safety and resumption of normal operations on Wednesday
The incident underscores the vulnerability of local infrastructure and the importance of safety protocols during extreme weather conditions and unexpected disruptions. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and restore full services to the community.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- ABC7 News
- Wikipedia: San Bernardino, California
- San Bernardino Sun
- Google Search: San Bernardino power outage
- NBC Los Angeles
- Encyclopedia Britannica: San Bernardino
- Spectrum News 1
- Google News: San Bernardino school closures
- KTLA News
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