POWER OUTAGE AND SEVERE STORMS END HEAT WAVE

The first heat wave of 2008 brought with it 4 days of hazy hot and humid conditions with temperatures reaching close to 100 degrees each day. On the last day of the heat wave at 1630 E4 was dispatched to its third transformer fire of the day at the intersection of Rt. 123 and Carter Street. At the same time power was lost to the firehouse and some 8000 residents of New Canaan. With CLP predicting power not to be restored until sometime around 2030 and temps still in the upper 90s town officials decided to activate the emergency operations center. During this time cooling centers were opened around the town and firefighters were kept busy with numerous alarms and welfare checks. At 2045 power was restored to most of the town however at 2100 a line of severe storms made its way across the region and knocked out power to most of the town again. The storms brought with them heavy rain strong winds and dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning. Firefighters responded to numerous calls including trees and power lines down trees on houses activated alarms and a few smoke scares. From 2100 that night to 1300 the next day New Canaans Bravest responded to 35 calls for service. No serious injuries were reported and a good job was done by all.