News

On Monday July 7th, 2003 at approx. 1330hrs the Millville Vol. Fire Co. was dispatched to a reported Pole and Wires down. 84-0 with 2nd Asst. Chief Graig Temple arrived first and established command. A utility pole was found to have been clipped half way up, by a passing Tractor Trailer hauling roof trusses. The top portion of the pole (approx 12') was twisted in the lower phone lines and a power service connection feeding a near-by business. Due to the possibility of the damaged section falling into the roadway and dropping power lines to the heavily traveled roadway, Rt 26 was ordered closed between White's Neck Road and Railway Road. E84-2 with Chief Scott arrived and secured the parking lot of the Shoppes of Millville, to prevent persons exiting the stores from driving under the hazard. Connectiv and Verizon were contacted for service/pole replacement as well as DELDOT for arrow-boards to assist in the direction of traffic. Connectiv arrived within 45 minutes and secured the power service to the business. Due to an extended response time by Verizon and the need to re-open the major roadway, it was determined that if the fallen portion of the pole could be trimmed off. The remaining pole would not be a traffic hazard and the road could be re-opened immediately. Rt 26 was re-opened a short time later and units were placed available. The Millville Vol. Fire Co. would like to thank Al, from Al Casapulla's Deli and Italian Restaurant for his generosity in providing all emergency personnel on the scene with free lemon ice, because of temperatures in the high 90's and an heat index of close to 100*. Units responding: 84-0, E84-2, Millville, Bethany Beach, Roxana and Dagsboro Fire Police, OVPD, DSP, Connectiv and DELDOT. Graig Temple, Asst. Chief/PIO