Thousands of FirstEnergy customers were without power in Columbiana County Monday morning, including at least one college campus.

Kent State University announced Monday that the Salem campus was closed until 5 p.m. on Monday after a power outage has left the campus in the dark. 

Essential employees were still being asked to come to work. 

According to FirstEnergy, Kent State isn't the only one without power in the area. 

As of 10:45 a.m. FirstEnergy was reporting more than 3,000 customers without power in Salem, and more than 5,000 without power in all of Columbiana County. 

A short while later, power was restored to the area. 

According to FirstEnergy, a squirrel came into contact with a transformer in the substation causing it to "blow". The equipment has since been repaired.