| At 11:18 this morning, several residents in Croton's Harmon area noticed a brief power interruption, including several CFD members. Moments later, the pagers sounded for the reported brush fire on South Riverside Avenue across from the Shop Rite Shopping Center.
Car 2081 (Chief Munson) was in the complex and was on scene at the time of dispatch, advising 60 Control of a brush fire caused by some type of electrical malfunction. After establishing the "South Riverside Command," he had Cars 2082 & 2083 assist with closing traffic in the area, then had the apparatus position several telephone poles back from the fire as a precaution.
After a quick assessment and using a voltage detecting device, personnel were able to verify there was no electrical shock hazard on the ground and began to attack the wind-driven brush fire. Using two attack hose lines and brush fire tools off of Engine 120, personnel contained then extinguished the fire after 35 minutes.
Con Edison arrived and found that the cause was a small tree branch that came into contact between two of three 13KV feeders atop a pole. When this burning branch fell to the ground, it sparked the fast-moving brush fire.
Ironically, the National Weather Service issued a Fire-Weather Watch minutes before this incident occurred, due to dry ground and brisk wind conditions in the area.
Command placed the situation under control at 11:53 and all units returned to service one hour after dispatch. One dozen CFD volunteers were on scene. |
