Edgewood, Forest Hills, Swissvale Sail OK Through Storm

Whether it was luck, many leaves already fallen from the trees or just that Hurricane Sandy's hype exceed her wrath, the local communities fared pretty well.

"We were lucky," said Swissvale fire Chief Clyde Wilhelm, noting there were no issues to speak of in the borough.

He attributes some of that luck to the fact that so many leaves have already fallen.

With a designation as a Tree City USA, it's little wonder that Forest Hills two minor issues had to do with trees. Keith Morse, emergency management coordinator and Woodland Hills EMS supervisor, said two trees fell.

The one at the pool lodge off Braddock Road knocked out phone and cable. The other tree incident on Niagara Road cut power, phone and cable service to one home, Morse said.

"All in all, pretty lucky," Morse said.

Emergency responders in Edgewood had a busy night.

"We really had only a few minor issues, although we were quite busy," said Dave Andrews, Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department chief.
 
At 5 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters responded to an electrical fire on Elmer Street. According to police reports, water in the fuse box created a hazard and Duquesne Light shut off power to the house.

The traffic light and wires fell at the intersection of Race Street and Pennwood Avenue about 8:45 p.m. Firefighters responded by blocking the roadway.

"We believe someone may have hit it and left, but (we're) not sure," Andrews said.

Less than 15 minutes later, about 8:59 p.m., Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department responded to the corner of Hawthorne and Locust, where a tree was burning because the wires were arcing. Andrews said the branch burned through and was under control in about 10 minutes. The roadway was temporarily closed.

Then firefighters were off to an electrical fire at 9:34 p.m. on Oakview Avenue. Water was leaking into an outlet, causing it to short, Edgewood police report.

Afterward, Edgewood firefighters responded to two accidents on the Parkway East—once at 10:17 and the other at 10:24 p.m.
 
Did you notice any problems in your neighborhood? Share them here, as well as any storm photos!

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