GINA B. GOOD / PVT NHP Trooper Pat Walker directs traffic at the corner of Highways 160 and 372 during Wednesday's power outage. Advertisement

A 31-minute power outage Wednesday was caused by a bird flying into power lines behind Walmart.

A small fire resulted from the contact causing damage to electrical hardware. It did not damage the pole. The bird was toasted.

The outage occurred at 11:38 a.m., and power was restored at 12:09 p.m. affecting 385 customer meters, according to Staci Behnke, spokesperson for Valley Electric Association.

Standard procedure at Walmart was followed, as shoppers and employees were cleared from the store as a safety precaution. Employees gathered in the parking lot and after the power returned, entered the store to restock items in abandoned shopping carts.

"We all worked together and it didn't take long at all," said a Walmart associate on the grocery side of the store.

It was business as usual at Bank of America. According to Michelle Chappell, teller operations specialist, customers making deposits were given handwritten receipts. The facility was lit by emergency lights and sunlight filtering in from outside.

"Our receipts and other transactions go to Las Vegas every day by courier," said Chappell. "We just don't have the convenience of using our computer system."

"Customers can't use their debit cards to get cash here until the power comes back on," said Carol Robison, sales service specialist, "but we can cash a handwritten check."

Although ATMs were not working at the main branch, power was still on at the Bank of America branch in Albertson's Grocery.

The Pahrump Nugget also faired well. "Our emergency generator kicks in within seconds," said Lori Doller, marketing director. "Our slots were up, our restaurants were open -- the only service we couldn't offer was bowling."