WEATHER BLAMED FOR DOWNED POWER LINES, FIRE

High winds and rain are blamed for a couple of power pole fires and downed power lines in the Morongo Basin. County Fire Battalion Chief Mike O’Bier said there were numerous downed lines in Yucca Valley Sunday, but the most significant was a power line that fell across the Highway 62 at Kickapoo Trail in Yucca Valley about 10:20 a.m. The Sheriff’s Department closed the highway until Southern California Edison workers arrived to de-energize the line about an hour later.

Sunday evening, Morongo Valley firefighters were called to Highway 62 and Livingston Drive where they found a transformer arcing. The sparks caused a small vegetation fire at the base of the power pole. Once SoCal Edison workers arrived and turned off the power, the fire quickly burned out. And then about 5:50 this morning, Morongo Valley firefighters were called to another power pole fire, this one at Rose Eden Drive and Highway 62. SoCal Edison crews arrived quickly to de-energize the line.