Power coming back on after crane arm gets stuck in line
Published at | Updated at
Editor’s note: The city earlier called the vehicle a boom truck. Officials are now saying it was a crane truck that got stuck in the power line. That has been corrected. Time for power restoration has also been updated, as well as the cost for the loss of the truck.
IDAHO FALLS — At least 1,800 Idaho Falls Power customers were without electricity Monday morning.
As of 12:10 p.m., power was being restored, and 100 customers or fewer were without power, according to outage information found here.
Idaho Falls spokeswoman Kerry Hammon said the driver of a crane truck forgot to lower the arm. When driving near Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, it got caught up in a power line. Emergency crews responded around 9:45 a.m.
A small fire was also reported at the 3300 block of Valencia Drive as a result of the power outage. There were no injuries.
People lost power on Channing Way, Sunnyside Road and Woodruff Avenue. Some of the major businesses impacted were EIRMC, Mountain View Hospital and the Grand Teton Mall. The hospitals were using backup generator electricity.
Crews have been working to restore power. Idaho Falls Power officials have estimated that power should be on for everyone by 12:30 p.m.
The city said the estimated loss for the truck is $175,000.