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Lightning Grazes Woman's Hand In Covina

COVINA (CBS) — A Covina woman watching an electrical storm Friday was grazed by a lightning strike on the hand.

According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, lightning struck a can Bertha Arena was holding as she admired a rainbow in her driveway about 8 a.m. Friday. Her hand lit up like a ball of fire, she said.

County firefighters took Arenas to Queen of the Valley Hospital, where she was treated for minor burns to her hand.

"They kept saying I smelled like burnt steak," Arenas said. "The doctor said I was lucky it didn't hit me on my head or shoulders."

About 5,000 San Gabriel Valley homes went dark as crews worked to repair utility poles damaged in the storm, Southern California Edison spokesman Paul Klein said.

A chance of thunderstorms remains in the forecast Saturday.

About a mile from where Arenas' home, lightning splintered a utility pole in the 17000 block of West Covina Boulevard, knocking out power to homes and traffic signals. Lightning also knocked out power to Lark Ellen Elementary School.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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