PG&E is reports recent power outage in Salinas was caused by rain

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- More than 6,000 PG&E customers were initially without power in North Salinas around 6 p.m. Monday night.

PG&E is reporting recent rain in the area caused an equipment to malfunction. The rain turned the dust into mud which cased one of the power poles to spark and even catch on fire.

Eric Leon was working at his familys auto store when it happened.

"We just heard an explosion. We walked, we ran outside. We saw that there was like lightning coming up, coming out of a pole. "We had to tell customers to leave just because we didn't know if it was a, you know, a spread or anything. Now, we just saw this fire surrounding the poll as well." said Leon.

The outage includes homes west of North Main Street and along West Laurel Drive.

It also includes some homes along North Davis Road and Casentini Street among multiple other neighborhoods.

Mariam Ramirez was working in the area where the outages occured.

"I was working late and the power just just started flickering. And then I just went out and I came outside the office and I just realized everything was pitch black," said Ramirez.

PG&E says power was restored by 9 p.m.