Hundreds of New Canaan homes remained without late Monday after a massive tree fell across Forest Street near Heritage Hill Road at midday, officials said.
This tree fell across Forest Street near Heritage Hill Road shortly after 12 p.m. on Aug. 22, 2016, knocking out power to hundreds of New Canaan homes and causing a traffic shutdown in the area. Photo published with owner’s permission
According to First Selectman Rob Mallozzi, a former active volunteer firefighter who also is a resident of the neighborhood, police closed off the area of Forest Street above Locust Avenue and “it will be a little complicated putting things back together if you live in this area.”
“People should know to stay away from this area today,” Mallozzi told NewCanaanite.com.
This tree fell across Forest Street near Heritage Hill Road shortly after 12 p.m. on Aug. 22, 2016, knocking out power to hundreds of New Canaan homes and causing a traffic shutdown in the area. Photo published with owner’s permission
The tree, located on the east side of Forest Street just south of Heritage Hill Road, not only damaged equipment “but also resulted in four broken utility poles,” according to Mitch Gross, a spokesperson for Eversource.
“Our crews are working as quickly as they can,” Gross said.
Though early estimates put the power restoration time at 8 p.m., as of 11 p.m., 367 homes remained without power, according to Eversource. According to Mallozzi, new poles were being installed late Monday night and while power should come back to Heritage Hill before night’s end, Forest Street likely would not get power back until after midnight.
The tree fell shortly after 12 p.m., according to fire dispatch records.
It did not appear that any individuals were hurt when the tree fell, nor did it appear that any motor vehicles or homes were damaged, Mallozzi said.
NewCanaanite.com will have more information as soon as it’s available.
So lucky no one was injured most importantly, and that no one lost their home or car. This street is lovely without traffic racing through as a short cut. Many thanks to each person involved in addressing the situation and working to keep us safe and restore power.
And we are so licky the weather is beautiful with cool nights now that the heat and humidity is gone.
Power restored at 8 pm? Power still out at 9:20 p.m. Fortunately we have a generator. Might be a noisy night for our neighbors. Heard power might not be restored until tomorrow. Give thanks to our Eversource team in Norwalk.
It’s more involved than reconnecting wires . Can anyone explain why this happened on the most glorious day we have had in weeks?