Fallen branch causes power outage

Barbara Woods, owner of Ambiance Massage and Spa on Fifth Street, felt the static in the air and saw a fireball travel down a power line during Thursday afternoon's power outage.

Sierra Pacific Power Co. spokesman Gary Aldax said about 600 customers were without power for about 20 minutes after a branch fell onto a power line at East Fifth Street and Saliman Road.

All customers had power restored by 3:20 p.m.

Customers within the boundary of Fifth, Roop and Long streets and Saliman Road were affected.

Woods' business is on the second story, so she was eye level with the power lines.

"First, the lights went out, and then we heard this rumbling, a deep, deep rumble," she said. "All of a sudden, you could hear it go from the left side of the shop to the right side. You knew it was electrical because I could feel the static."

Woods said she watched sparks go all the way down the line. One of her massage therapists was walking near the line and came close to getting her hair singed.

"And there was a ball of fire coming down the line," Woods said. "It was kind of scary because you didn't know what was going on."

Bryan Humphrey, a cashier at the Winner's Corner on Fifth Street, said power went out three times, but not for long.

Contact Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.