IN THE DARK POWER, WATER OUTAGES FRAY NERVES PARK RESIDENTS ENDURE THIRD DAY OF SEARING HEAT.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY -- Residents of a Canyon Country neighborhood grew angry Monday after living in 100-plus-degree temperatures with no water or electricity, a crisis that left two hospitalized.

A power outage at 6:30 p.m. Saturday that cut electricity to the 476 homes in the Canyon View Estates development of manufactured homes continued for a third day. Some 200 residents uphill had a double crisis -- the pump that sends water to their homes didn't work.

``We're working on getting a generator and I've called stores and the ice company to see if I can get water donated, but nobody has come through,'' park estates manager Eric White said to an angry crowd of about three dozen residents who assembled at midday Monday.

Two transformers blew on Saturday; one that is maintained by Southern California Edison at the entrance to the park and another maintained by the neighborhood management, White said.

Park owner Kerry Seidenglanz had been out of town but was scheduled to return Monday to talk with people about restoration of service and any possible reimbursements.

Calls to Seidenglanz's cell phone were unanswered.

Several of the people surrounding White had come to take their elderly parents away until the crisis passed.

Two residents were treated by paramedics Saturday night for conditions that could be related to the power outage and sweltering heat, county fire Inspector Ron Haralson said. A 62-year-old diabetic man was treated for a seizure and a 61-year-old woman was having difficulty breathing, requiring help with her oxygen. Both were hospitalized.

Canyon View Estates is serviced by a master meter that distributes power via equipment owned and operated by the park, said Paul Klein, an Edison spokesman. Edison's responsibility stops at the main gate.

``A park electrician was working on the system within the park at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday and caused a flashover on an Edison transformer,'' Klein said. ``This sent a fault through our system and took out power for 1,835 customers in the park and surrounding neighborhood. We got those customers back up later in the evening and went to the park, fixed some wires that had wrapped around each other and re-energized the park.

``In making repairs to their system, their electrician went to the main breaker system, where a piece failed and caused a significant event that threw the whole park out.''

Klein said Edison crews returned to turn off the power Saturday night and were on standby to restore power once repairs are done.

``We are waiting for them to call, but as of now, the park's problems remain unchanged,'' he added.

Patricia Reaver, one of the park's first residents, said this was the first time a power outage of this magnitude had ever occurred.

``If I were the owner, I would have been out here yesterday,'' she said.

Heather Luylando tried to tough out the heat with her five children, who range in age from 10 years to 3 months, but ended up in a motel room. When she asked whether she could be reimbursed for her lodging, White told her it was unlikely.

She also spent Monday morning joining her neighbors in throwing out spoiled food.

``No one was answering the phone in the office and the maintenance guy has avoided everybody,'' she said. ``In our contracts, that we all signed, it says they (management) have 30 days to repair any power or water issues, but this is inhumane.''

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Alana Kirkham and her son Kai, 2, stand near the front of the Canyon View Estates along with other residents hoping to get some answers as to when they might get power back to their homes.

(2 -- color) Workers examine the power facility which went up in smoke leaving the Canyon View Estates without power since Saturday.

(3) Heather Luyando, mother of five, sorts through items she has had to throw away since being without power since Saturday at her home in Santa Clarita.

(4) Residents of the Canyon View Estates stand in the shade as temperatures hit triple digits. The area has been without power since Saturday.

David Crane/Staff Photographer