June 30, 2005

Storm sparks busy time for agencies

       A brief thunderstorm kept Johnson County fire departments busy Wednesday long after the sun began to shine again.  After the storm began to roll through the county, White River Township firefighters went out on 10 runs. At least six calls were because of lightning, Battalion Chief Jeff Wilson said.  During the storm, firefighters responded to a blaze at 420 Restin Road. Firefighters were investigating the call but did not believe it was related to the storm, Wilson said.  The fire in the residence caused about $5,000 in damage and possibly more in water damage, he said.

         The Greenwood Fire Department went out on a half-dozen runs related to the storm. Several trees were blown onto power lines, Lt. Tom Kite said.  Greenwood responded to about five tree fires in Imperial Hills subdivision about 2 p.m. Wednesday, Kite said.  Firefighters stood by and watched the trees burn to make sure flames did not spread out of control. They did not approach the fire because of the danger of dealing with wet power lines, Kite said.  “In a rainy situation, a limb is a good conductor,” he said.

         Franklin firefighters assisted at an apartment fire in Greenwood but didn’t have any calls of their own, Chief Mike Herron said.  Law enforcement departments across the county responded to a variety of different calls, including one in which the roof of a mobile home was blown off, Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Doug Cox said.  The department received five reports of downed electrical lines between 1 and 4 p.m., he said.  Falling trees blocked roads at several locations in the county, including intersections at State Road 37 and County Road 144, and Smith Valley and Yorktown roads, and on Nineveh Road south of State Road 252.  Travel was made more difficult by stoplights that weren’t working at several intersections, including Madison Avenue and U.S. 31, Smith Valley Road and U.S. 31, and Whiteland Road and State Road 135.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)  See a related story HERE.

 
 

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