Electric blast blows off manhole cover in Costa Mesa

A few Costa Mesa residents lost power when an electrical malfunction blew the cover off of an underground transformer and sent some smoke billowing into the air Friday morning, according to fire officials.

The blast didn’t injure anyone, but fire crews responded to Harbor Boulevard north of Baker Street around 7 a.m. before quickly turning the situation over to Southern California Edison, Costa Mesa Battalion Chief Kevin Diamond said.

The small blast cut power to five customers in the area, according to Edison spokesman Paul Griffo.

Griffo said crews were still working Friday morning to determine what caused the malfunction.

On its website, the utility estimated it could take until midnight to restore all power in the area.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck