BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — It didn’t take long for the new leadership of the Brookville Volunteer Fire Company, as well as many area first responders, to be tested with the widespread power outage in Brookville January 20.
A severe power surge was blamed for widespread damage throughout the area.
BVFC First Assistant Chief Michael Allegeier reported most of the 45 calls the department responded to involved the power outage.
Local emergency responders from several departments responded to the 9-1-1 center’s reports of numerous reports of structure fires, fire alarms, smoke in structures and electrical issues that occurred after a high voltage line came in contact with another high voltage line along Taylor Street in Brookville, owned by Penelec.
“Our emergency workers did a great job on the power surge,” council member Ken King said.
Council member Dave Ferringer added ‘It was good to know we could go to bed knowing things were taken care of.”
According to the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Services, 9-1-1 operators fielded dozens of calls that ranged all through the south side of Brookville, extending into the village of Beligumtown in Rose Township and parts of Pine Creek Township.
While firefighters from Brookville, Pine Creek Township, Reynoldsville, and Corsica, along with Brookville Police Officers and Jefferson County EMS Ambulance, checked the different reports in town, Brookville Borough’s new Emergency Management Coordinator started conducting an assessment to see how extensive the damage was and to see what additional resources would be needed.
According to Kyle W. Zents, EMA Coordinator for Brookville, hundreds of homes and numerous businesses felt the effect.
“What we saw from the places reporting damages and the businesses we visited, damage ranged from blown appliances to damage to the buildings’ electrical systems,” Zents said. “We were in contact with the County EMA to see if there was any assistance that may be available to help residents.” Zents also indicated that through their assessments, hundreds of television sets, major appliances, furnaces and so forth were damaged from the surge.
He also indicated that no injuries occurred.
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