LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Friday evening power equipment failure led to a wide-ranging power outage and a sewage spill.

Cal Fire and Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a report of a blown transformer on Sulphur Bank Drive and Highway 20 just after 8:30 p.m. Saturday night, according to radio reports.

A small fire was triggered but quickly put out, and Pacific Gas and Electric was called in, officials reported from the scene.

PG&E spokesman Brandi Ehlers said the equipment failure led to a power outage that ran from 8:41 p.m. to 11:55 p.m. Friday.

She said approximately 4,009 customers in Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Clearlake Park and Lower Lake lost power.

Businesses in the area either closed early or tried to use candlelight, according to a report Lake County News received from a community member.

The outage also led to an issue for the Southeast Regional Wastewater Collection System in Clearlake, according to Special Districts Administrator Mark Dellinger.

Dellinger said the loss of power caused a backup on Lakeshore Drive in which two manholes discharged.

He said 70 gallons of sewage was discharged, and all of it was contained and removed.

No sewage flowed into Clear Lake, Dellinger said.

“We were directed by Lake County Environmental Health to disinfect and post the area affected by both manholes,” he said.

Dellinger said the health department later directed that the signs be removed, which took place on Tuesday.

Special Districts sent the spill notification to the state, as required, on Saturday, he said.

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