Tree falls on power lines, knocking out power - and setting off fire alarm at credit union
EUGENE, Ore. - A tree limb fell on a live wire, causing a power outage - and a surge that set off fire alarms and caused an evacuation at a credit union Tuesday.
Around 11 a.m., the limb broke off a tree and fell on wires at the corner of 16th and Olive. The outage cut power to about 1,200 customers.
A power surge set off fire alarms at nearby SELCO Community Credit Union. About 100 people evacuated the building as a result.
A power outage caused quite the scene in Eugene Tuesday morning. An EWEB spokesman says a tree limb broke off and fell on top of a live wire.
"We saw like a disruption in the power, like a flicker in the lights, and the fire alarm went off and we understand its related to some sort of disruption West of here and it took the power out in a number of buildings in the area," said Steve McIntire, SELCO VP of Administration.
Some people reported hearing an explosion before the power went out.
EWEB officials said that may occur if a tree limb comes in contact with an active wire.
A crew removed the limb from the wires. Power was restored about 30 minutes after it went out.
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