Ten-year-olds Alex Christensen and Rachel Wangen got quite the surprise Tuesday afternoon when they were jumping on a trampoline in Christensen’s backyard on Swanhill Drive.

The two girls said they were having fun at about 1 p.m. at Christensen’s house, at 1417 Swanhill Drive, when they heard what they described as an explosion or loud boom.

Behind them, about 30 feet toward the back of the yard, a power line had fallen and flames flames were sparking from it.

“It sounded like an airplane crashing on the wire,” Christensen said.

Her mother, Sherrie Christensen, was inside the house cleaning the bathroom when she heard the loud noise, she said. As soon as the sound of the explosion went off, the power went out.

She said she knew the girls were outside so she rushed to them. She didn’t quite know what to expect.

Neighbors Jerry and Bennie Kortz, who were working in their front yard across the street from the house, said the two girls “took off screaming and hollering.”

“I jumped really fast and I saw the girls come running,” Bennie Kortz said.

Not knowing what had caused the explosion was worrisome to her, she said.

Upon closer review of the area, it was clear it was just the downed line.

Albert Lea firefighters and police officers responded to the incident, but because it was a power line, it wasn’t until Alliant Energy shut off the power to that line from a substation that the sparking stopped.

Multiple Alliant Energy workers also responded to the scene, working at a nearby power line. By 2 p.m. one of the workers had clipped some of the lines and was working to restore power.

Electricity also went out at nearby Alamco Wood Products as part of the incident. The company can be seen from the backyard of the house.

Why the line fell was not clear as of press time.