O&R: Tree Breaks Utility Pole, Takes Down Power Lines In Fardale

About 120 Fardale residents are without power Tuesday as the result of a fallen tree across Wyckoff Ave., representatives from Rockland Electric confirmed.

According to Donovan, at 7:12 a.m. Tuesday morning, a tree fell “across Wyckoff Ave., blocking the street, breaking one utility pole and damaging two others and knocking down approximately 800 feet of wire. In addition, a transformer on the pole broke open, spilling a small amount of cooling fluid onto the street.” The event caused about 120 homes on and around Wyckoff Ave. to lose power, he said.

According to Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli, a garbage truck crashed into a large tree, which fell and caused all the damage. The roadway was closed for about six hours, but no one was injured, Batelli said.

The utility’s environmental contractors cleaned up the spilled cooling fluid, Donovan said. RE crews also “cleared the damaged poles and downed wires, set three new poles, attached the necessary hardware, and restrung eight sections of wire.” Additional repairs were continuing throughout the day Tuesday.

After tree interference caused a similar , Donovan said this type of outage is not uncommon. “Damage from falling trees and branches is the principal cause of power outages in the Rockland Electric service territory,” he said. RE recommends residents “plant compatible trees species that won’t grow into, or otherwise interfere with, equipment near electric lines.” He also said the utility conducts “tree maintenance” along power lines and removes trees considered to be at risk of falling on top of power lines.