San Bernardino, California, August 6, 2025
News Summary
A power outage in San Bernardino, California, caused by a locomotive striking a transmission line, led to the closure of 14 schools affecting thousands of students. The disruption, which impacted around 17,000 customers, resulted in schools closing due to concerns over safety in the extreme heat. Fortunately, power was restored by noon the same day, and schools are expected to reopen the following day. Parents were notified to pick up their children from the closed schools as a precaution during the outage.
San Bernardino, California – A significant power outage resulted in the closure of 14 schools impacting thousands of students on Tuesday, following an incident involving a locomotive and utility equipment.
The outage began around 5 a.m. when a BNSF locomotive struck an Edison transmission line in the rail yard located on 4th Street. This event disrupted electricity for approximately 17,000 customers in the area. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
By noon on the same day, Southern California Edison confirmed that power had been restored to all affected customers, alleviating concerns over safety and comfort within the community as temperatures were forecast to soar into the high 90s and even triple digits.
In response to the outage and the extreme heat, the San Bernardino City Unified School District made the decision to close 14 schools for the day. The schools affected included Chávez, Salinas, Shandin Hills, Kendall Complex, Holcomb, Hillside, North Park, Cajon High School, Palm, Vermont, North Verdemont, Kimbark, Newmark, and Muscoy. Despite the outage, most campuses within the district remained operational, allowing for a portion of the educational process to continue albeit with some interruptions.
With heat advisories in place, concerns were raised regarding the safety of students, particularly in classrooms that lacked adequate ventilation. Parents of students enrolled in the closed schools were notified of the situation and advised to pick up their children as soon as possible.
In addition to the school closures, the power outage also resulted in non-functioning stoplights in northern San Bernardino, posing a potential hazard for motorists. However, essential services, such as St. Bernardine Medical Center, continued to operate normally throughout the duration of the power loss.
This power outage marked the second consecutive day that schools had to cancel classes due to similar circumstances, with the Bear Valley Unified School District previously announcing closures in response to an earlier power outage.
The earlier outage had also been attributed to transmission issues within the Edison network, which was confirmed to be part of the ongoing electrical disruptions in the area. Edison’s outage website indicated multiple separate outages within San Bernardino County, all documented around 5:08 a.m.; these anomalies are believed to have stemmed from data entry errors.
Looking ahead, classes at the affected schools are anticipated to resume on Wednesday, as the school district works diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of its students in light of recent challenges.
FAQ Section
What caused the power outage in San Bernardino?
The power outage was caused when a BNSF locomotive struck an Edison transmission line in the rail yard on 4th Street.
How many schools were closed due to the outage?
Fourteen schools were closed in the San Bernardino City Unified School District due to the outage.
Were there any injuries reported from the incident?
No injuries were reported as a result of the incident involving the locomotive and power line.
When will classes resume at the affected schools?
Classes at the affected schools are expected to resume on Wednesday.
Key Features of the Power Outage Incident
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | San Bernardino, California |
| Date of Incident | Tuesday, 5 a.m. |
| Cause | A locomotive struck an Edison transmission line |
| Customers Affected | Approximately 17,000 |
| Schools Closed | 14 schools in the San Bernardino City Unified School District |
| Temperature Forecast | Highs in the 90s and triple digits |
| Power Restoration | By noon on Tuesday |
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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
