Power outage forces Glendale Community College to close campus

A malfunctioning switch box knocked out power at Glendale Community College on Friday morning, prompting officials to cancel classes and close the campus.

Interim Supt. Jim Riggs said crews were evaluating the issue and assessing needed repairs.

"It looks like it will be out at least for the rest of today," he told the Glendale News-Press.

Most of the college's staff were also sent home, although some remained at work under backup lighting systems that kicked into gear, Riggs added. The outage also left the college's email and phone systems disabled.

"Basically, the entire campus is closed down," he said.

Officials will notify students later Friday whether Saturday classes would also be canceled, he said. The college's Garfield campus was also closed for the day.

Glendale city spokesman Tom Lorenz said Glendale Water & Power crews were standing by to assist if needed, but he described the outage as campus facilities issue.

He said the city may loan some equipment "in an effort to get some interim power."

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-- Kelly Corrigan and Jason Wells, Times Community News

Photo: Students at Glendale Community College in September. Credit: Christina House / Los Angeles Times