Friday Storm Keeps Firefighters Busy, Causes Problems On Roads & Rails

The coastal storm that brought Friday’s mix of high winds, rain, and snow caused problems across the Levittown area.

Throughout the day, sirens and fire trucks rushing from call to call were a common sight. Whether it was for downed wires or alarms triggered by power issues, crews kept active throughout the day.

Fire crews responded to the Red Cedar neighborhood in Bristol Township’s Levittown section Friday afternoon for weather-related electrical problems.

A tree in the 50 black of Red Brook Lane and the 70 block of Ridge Lane broke due to the high winds. On the way down, the tree took out the power line servicing the home on Ridge Lane and the home on Red Brook Lane

According to Ryan Flanagan, deputy chief of Levittown Fire Company No. 2, there was no actual fire in either of the residences. Crews did find some appliances in the homes were burned out due to a related power surge.

“We’re getting slammed,” Falls Township Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito said.

Dippolito said the township’s fire companies had been responding all day to calls for downed wires and related issues caused by the weather.

Numerous power problems were also reported throughout the area.

Middletown Public Works Department crews used a backhoe to remove a portion of a tree that fell on Snowball Drive in Levittown shortly after the snow started.

Residents in the Croydon section of Bristol Township told LevittownNow.com several large limbs and trees were knocked down or damaged by the storm.

Drivers struggled Friday afternoon as they commuted during the height of the snow. PennDOT and municipal road crews were spotted laying down salt and plowing snow.

Around 5 p.m., SEPTA officials announced that the Trenton and West Trenton Regional Rail lines that service the area were suspended. The suspension was caused by “deteriorating weather conditions and power problems.”

Amtrak cancelled all evening service on the busy Northeast Corridor between Washington D.C. and Boston.

Snow and rain were forecasted to taper off by late Friday night. Winds will remain strong through Friday night and into early Saturday.