16,000-Volt Wire Burns 3 Workers

Three Southern California Edison workers trying to fix a power outage Friday afternoon were burned after cutting through a 16,000-volt live wire beneath a Santa Clarita street, authorities said.

The workers, who suffered flash burns to their faces and upper extremities from the electrical blast, were taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia.

Two of the workers, 48-year-old Keith Irwin of Acton and 33-year-old Victor Puentes of Somis, were quickly transferred to the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, where they were both listed in serious condition Friday night.

Irwin suffered second- and third-degree burns to his face, ears, neck, arms and hands, Dr. Peter Grossman said. The burns covered 20% of his body.

Puentes was less seriously injured, with second- and third-degree burns on 6% to 8% of his body. His face, ears and neck were burned.

“They both will have some type of facial scarring, and certainly Mr. Irwin should have some damage to his hands,” Grossman said. “How severe, it’s too early to tell.”

The third worker, 33-year-old Steven Clyne of Los Angeles, escaped serious injury. He was in good condition and was expected to be released from Newhall Memorial hospital Friday night, hospital spokeswoman Janice Newbold said.

The accident occurred at 1:05 p.m. as workers dug into a three-foot hole on The Old Road in front of the Valencia Marketplace, county Fire Inspector Henry Rodriguez said. When the wire was severed, Rodriguez said, it sparked a giant electrical arc that burst out of the hole.

“It created a gusher of heat and electricity,” he said.

Both Irwin and Puentes are scheduled for surgery on Monday, Grossman said.

Fred Trueblood, a spokesman for Southern California Edison, said the company is investigating the blast. He said the workers were trying to repair damage done to an underground cable by a contractor, which had cut power to 2,000 homes.

“Especially when we have people who are hurt, we try to do an exhaustive investigation,” Trueblood said. “This is a very, very serious event in our family.”