Electrical Wire Blaze Causes Power Outage in Heights

An electrical wire from a nearby utility pole went ablaze in front of a Lawrence/Burton Avenue home Thursday  shutting down the neighborhood for part of the morning.

Hasbrouck Heights firefighters and PSE&G crews were on the scene just after 8 a.m. Power had to be cut to the area, which included nearby Lincoln School only a block over, while workers repaired the utility pole.

Fire Chief Richard Giarratana said there was no damage to the interior of the home and no one was hurt. There was one woman inside the home but firefighters got her out safely, he said. 

The fire started just around the time children were getting dropped off for their last day of school for the year.

Helena Brady who does the Walking School Bus from Myers Avenue to Lincoln, said she was walking up Burton when she saw flames and smoke from a block or two away.

"All I could think was 'Oh My God my kids!," she said. All was fine and she was able to get her students safely to school.

Onlookers continued to stand by to watch the PSE&G crews and firefighters tend to the scene. Burton remained closed off from Lawrence to Burton around 9 a.m.

Patch will update as more information becomes available.