Electrical Fire Sparks Manhole Explosion, Power Outage In La Puente
LA PUENTE (CBS) — A fire in an underground electrical vault sparked a manhole explosion Tuesday in La Puente, knocking out service to 3,200 Southern California Edison customers.
According to Inspector Don Kunitomi of the county fire department, there were multiple explosions at 1:38 p.m. at North Del Valle Avenue and East Amar Road.
Los Angeles County Fire officials briefly evacuated 30 homes north of East Amar Road as a precaution.
County firefighters initially ordered the evacuations because "we didn't understand why there were so many explosions," county fire Capt. Mark Savage said.
By rerouting power lines, service was restored to all but 600 customers, according to Steve Conroy of Edison.
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