Downed electric wire causes power outages in south Merrick

The Merrick Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call for downed power wires at 4 a.m. on Jan. 31. The wires were sparking and burning in the front yard of a home at Frankel Boulevard and Arthur Avenue. Firefighters waited at the scene for a Long Island Power Authority repair crew to arrive and turn the electric off. The volunteers stayed to prevent fire from breaking out and spreading.

The downed wire caused a little over 1,000 power outages in south Merrick, according to a LIPA representative. All customers had their electricity restored by 11 a.m.

At press time on Thursday afternoon, officials at the Merrick School District were reporting that the district’s three schools –– Birch, Chatterton and Levy-Lakeside –– had partially lost power. It was unclear whether the school outages were related to the downed wire.