High winds knock out power for more than 4,000 customers in Carson City

High winds Wednesday afternoon knocked out power to nearly 4,300 NV Energy customers in Carson City.

Gusts nearing 50 mph broke a power pole and downed a power line in north Carson City by the Holiday Inn Express and hospital complex about 3 p.m. The line cut power to 2,300 customers, including the hospital, NV Energy spokesman Calder Chism said.

Power was restored to about half of those customers by 7:30 p.m., he said. Crews were “close” to restoring power to the rest Wednesday night, Chism said.

About the same time as the report in north Carson City, another broken power pole caused a small grass fire and knocked out power for nearly 2,000 residents near Carson Middle School. Residents on Musser Street and Richmond Avenue, near the Governor’s Mansion and surrounding area, were affected, Chism said.

All but a “handful” of residents had power restored by 7:30 p.m., he said.

“The goal is to have power restored in the next couple of hours,” Chism said, adding crews would be replacing power poles.