Electrical Explosion Cuts Power to Schools, Homes

Update: SCE's outage map now shows that repairs should be completed at about 9 p.m.

Power went down at about 11:30 a.m. to two Lake Forest schools and about 2,000 Southern California Edison customers after an electrical vault exploded at Serrano Road and Ridge Route, police said.

Reports of a "loud explosion" at the intersection—adjacent to both El Toro High and La Madera Elementary—brought police to the area.

Police temporarily shut down Serrano between Ridge Route and Sawmill as Orange County Fire Authority personnel and SCE employees responded to the spot where smoke was seen rising out of the ground.

The explosion initially knocked out power to 2,044 customers between Trabuco Road and Jeronimo, and Lake Forest Drive and El Toro Road. However, 30 seconds later, the power came back on for all but 368 customers, according to a SCE spokesman.

The explosion blasted though a slab of concrete across the street from El Toro High School. No injuries were reported.

As of about 2 p.m., phone lines were up again at El Toro High, on Toledo Way, though there was still no answer at La Madera Elementary, situated across the street on Serrano.

An SCE spokesman said that crews are working to restore power to the remaining 368 customers without electricity in the area. According to the company's outage map, power should be restored at about 3 p.m.