San Bernardino, August 6, 2025
News Summary
A significant power outage in San Bernardino interrupted services for approximately 17,000 customers, including 14 local schools. Beginning early Tuesday, the outage was triggered by a locomotive making contact with grid equipment. Although power was restored by noon, safety concerns arose as schools closed due to insufficient ventilation amid high temperatures. Traffic signals also malfunctioned, raising caution among drivers. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. The community is now working towards the resumption of classes and regular activities as authorities monitor the situation.
San Bernardino, California experienced a significant power outage on Tuesday, impacting around 17,000 customers, including students attending local schools. The outage commenced at approximately 5 a.m. when a locomotive made contact with grid equipment, leading to widespread disruptions.
According to a spokesperson for Southern California Edison, by noon on Tuesday, power was fully restored to the affected customers. In the wake of the outage, the San Bernardino City Unified School District announced the closure of 14 schools for the day due to the outage and predicted high temperatures, which were forecast to reach the high 90s and even triple digits.
The schools that closed included Chávez, Salinas, Shandin Hills, Kendall Complex, Holcomb, Hillside, North Park, Cajon High School, Palm, Vermont, North Verdemont, Kimbark, Newmark, and Muscoy. While most campuses remained operational, concerns arose regarding student safety in classrooms that lacked adequate ventilation during the heat wave.
In addition to the school closures, Captain Shawn Millerick from the San Bernardino County Fire Department confirmed that an Edison transmission line fell onto a BNSF locomotive in the rail yard located on 4th Street, causing the incident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of this incident, which further highlighted the safety concerns associated with the ongoing power outage.
Sergeant Christopher Gray from the local police department indicated that traffic signals were not functioning in northern San Bernardino due to the outage, increasing the need for caution among drivers. Despite the challenges, St. Bernardine Medical Center continued to operate normally without interruptions from the power outage.
This incident marked the second consecutive day of school closures in the region due to power outages. On the previous day, classes were canceled in the Bear Valley Unified School District for similar reasons. A review of Edison’s outage website revealed five separate outages reported at 5:08 a.m. in San Bernardino County, noted by the spokesperson as potentially arising from a data entry error.
Parents were promptly notified about the school closures and were asked to pick up their children as soon as feasible. Classes at the affected schools are expected to resume on Wednesday.
Conclusions
The impacts of the power outage in San Bernardino highlight significant concerns regarding student safety and operational reliability within the community. Authorities are monitoring the situation, and the community is working towards resuming regular activities in the days ahead.
FAQ Section
What caused the power outage in San Bernardino?
The power outage was caused when a locomotive struck grid equipment early Tuesday morning.
How many schools were closed due to the outage?
A total of 14 schools in the San Bernardino City Unified School District were closed.
When will classes resume?
Classes at the affected schools are expected to resume on Wednesday.
Were there any injuries reported during the incident?
No injuries were reported as a result of the power outage or the incident involving the locomotive.
Key Features Chart
Feature | Details |
---|---|
Location | San Bernardino, California |
Outage Start Time | 5:00 AM |
Number of Customers Affected | 17,000 |
Power Restoration | Noon on Tuesday |
Schools Closed | 14 Schools |
Temperature Forecast | High 90’s to triple digits |
Incident Reporting Time | 5:08 AM |
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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