Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Tree knocks out power for Ayer Street residents

IRONWOOD - Some residents on East Ayer Street lost electricity at approximately 11:30 a.m. Thursday after a tree fell onto power lines.

Members of the Ironwood Public Safety Department responded to multiple 911 calls regarding the tree, one of which stated it was on fire.

The tree wasn't on fire when the department arrived on the scene ,according to IPSD Lt. Mike Rimkus, however, there was some evidence of ashes on the ground.

The department closed Ayer Street, between Park and Lake streets, while Xcel Energy workers removed the tree and re-attached the downed power lines.

According to a Xcel representative at the scene, the tree most likely fell as a result of wind, knocking down two wires.

Most of the 184 customers who lost power had it restored around 12:17 p.m., Xcel Energy Senior Communications Consultant Liz Wolf Green said in an email to the Daily Globe.

The tree that fell was outside the zone surrounding the lines that the company monitors, Green said, which was why it wasn't trimmed or removed before it knocked the power lines down.

"Xcel Energy's vegetation management crews work hard to prevent situations like this one, however, this particular tree was outside the corridor or area that they manage," said Green.

No one was injured.

by the downed power lines.

 
 
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