Downed Power Line Causes House Fire In Centerport

A downed 13,000 volt power line caused a fire at a Centerport home during the Nor'easter on Wednesday night.

According to fire officials, the arcing primary power line came down and set fire to a backyard shed, and spread to a nearby unoccupied home on Idle Day Drive at 7:20 p.m.

A Centerport firefighter holding onto a hose line outside the house received a minor electric shock due to the high voltage on the ground, which halted the fire department's aggressive interior attack, officials say.

Firefighters were able to douse a few hot spots while waiting for a PSEG crew to arrive from Northport. Once on the scene, the crew cut the fuse on the pole, which shut off the power to the house and allowed firefighters to continue to extinguish the blaze, which damaged a bedroom and bathroom, officials say. It took about 40 minutes to put out the fire.

The firefighter who received the electric shock was checked out by Centerport Fire Department paramedics at the scene.

About 40 Centerport firefighters and emergency medical personnel were on the scene with two engines, a ladder truck, heavy rescue truck, two ambulances and a paramedic unit. Units were under the command of Chief Tom Boyd and Assistant Chiefs Rich Miltner and Andy Heglund. An engine from the Halesite Fire Department provided standby coverage.

The Town of Huntington Fire Marshal is investigating the blaze.

The Centerport Fire Department responded to 14 calls for electrical wires and trees down, and blocked roads during the storm, according to PIO Steve Silverman

Photos Courtesy Centerport Fire Department