Power shut down to many in Knox County, lines, trees, transformers down
A large tree that fell across Park Street in Camden took down wires and a transformer, which arced for about 30 minutes, until Knox County officials asked Central Maine Power to cut power to the county, due to the sheer volume of storm damage and downed wires. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Surges of power coming into this downed transformer could be heard and felt on Park Street Wednesday night minutes after the worst of the storm passed through. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
The bright light emitting from the downed transformer in Camden was hard to look at. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Motorists encounter the downed transformer on Park Street, before the Camden Fire Department was called to block the street. (Courtesy Brian Robinson)
A large tree that fell across Park Street in Camden took down wires and a transformer, which arced for about 30 minutes, until Knox County officials asked Central Maine Power to cut power to the county, due to the sheer volume of storm damage and downed wires. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Surges of power coming into this downed transformer could be heard and felt on Park Street Wednesday night minutes after the worst of the storm passed through. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
(Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
The bright light emitting from the downed transformer in Camden was hard to look at. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)
Motorists encounter the downed transformer on Park Street, before the Camden Fire Department was called to block the street. (Courtesy Brian Robinson)
CAMDEN — A violent thunder storm that produced more wind than rain, thunder and lightning just before 9 p.m. Wednesday prompted Knox County officials to ask Central Maine Power to shut down power to many towns due to the sheer volume of trees and wires down by 9:15 p.m.
Calls about downed trees and wires started coming in shortly before 9 p.m. Sept. 11, and on Park Street in Camden, a transformer was knocked to the ground by a large tree, where it lay in a yard arcing and surging with energy. The surging transformer lit up the street, and sent smoke billowing into the sky. Standing at Maple Street, heat from the transformer could still be felt.
Traffic was blocked on Park Street, between Maple and Mechanic streets, due not only to the dangerous transformer but the large tree across the road that pulled it down.
Minutes before the Park Street call in Camden, and for 10 minutes beforehand and about an hour afterward, Knox County Regional Communications fielded dozens of calls about blocked roads, downed trees and wires. As of 10:25 p.m., the county had 45 open calls for service, with Union, Appleton, Lincolnville, Hope and Camden the hardest hit in Knox County.
Due to the dangerous situation in Camden, as well as another one on Sennebec Road near the Appleton and Union town line reportedly involving a man pinned under a tree in his camper, KCRC asked CMP to cut power to Camden and Hope, among others, around 9:25 p.m.
As of 10:45 p.m., the power was still out in Camden but calls for downed trees had slowed.
Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.
Event Date
Address
1 Park Street
Camden, ME 04843
United States
