Downed pole, utility line closes Route 54, sparks brush fire, knocks out power for 400
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - William Penn firefighters at the scene of a brush fire on Route 54 in Lost Creek on August 2, 2023.
CONNERTON – A pair of downed utility poles closed Route 54 and, half a mile away, downed power lines sparked a brush fire, all of which knocked out power for about 400 PPL customers Wednesday afternoon.
Around 1:45pm, Girardville firefighters were called to Connerton for a downed utility pole on Route 54 near the Reading Anthracite coal breaker.
Around the same time, the William Penn Fire Co. was dispatched to Mount Olive Boulevard about a half mile away for a brush fire caused by downed power lines.
Those firefighters made quick work of the brush fire before assisting Girardville with traffic control.
Two utility poles were taken down and were moved off the road by mining equipment.
PPL Electric Utilities crews were on scene shortly after and began repairs.
According to PPL’s outage map, about 400 customers in Lost Creek, Connerton, Rappahannock, and Girardville were without power as of 5:30pm. The cause is listed as a vehicle accident.
No vehicle was present at either scene.
Additional Photos – Pole Down
Additional Photos – Brush Fire
About Author
