(Credit: Mike Allebach/https://www.allebachphotography.com)
Montgomery Township Fire Marshal Bill Wiegman cannot definitively say Tuesday afternoon if the unfortunate roll-off Dumpster delivery behind Airport Square Shopping Center early Tuesday morning that took out as many as six electrical lines was the cause of the massive traffic signal power outage and surge along North Wales Road, but everything occurred at the same time.
“I can’t say the guy that knocked down wires definitively caused a surge that happened – I’m not an electrical engineer – but all things happened around the same time, with the original dispatch at 6:41 a.m.,” Wiegman said. “I don’t know how long we will be without traffic lights.”
He does know, however, that Airport Square Shopping Center is without power – and will be for at least eight hours.
“PECO is out to restore power and (township electrical contractor) Armour & Sons Electric are out to repair boxes to get the signals up and working, but it doesn’t appear anything was a quick fix,” Wiegman, who is also township Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Department of Montgomery Township chief, said. “A surge fried the lights and boxes at Knapp and North Wales and Welsh and North Wales. There are burn marks on the roadway from the arcing, and burn marks on the buttons to push to cross the intersection, and underground wire damage.”
According to a Montgomery County ReadyMontco emergency notification system Tuesday afternoon, a high-voltage PECO line came down Tuesday morning, destroying the wiring and components that power and control the traffic signal at Welsh and North Wales roads.
The signal at North Wales and Welsh roads will be out of service through Tuesday and into Wednesday, Montgomery County said.
Around 6:32 a.m. Tuesday, Montgomery County emergency radio received a report of explosions of transformers at North Wales and Welsh Roads, where three municipalities converge, causing sparks and traffic poles to ignite on fire.
“We were dispatched for several electrical fires outside up and down North Wales Road, specifically at North Wales and Welsh roads and Route 202 and the Parkway. Then, subsequently, all other calls came in,” Wiegman said. “So many are impacted by that intersection – us, Upper Gwynedd, and Lansdale – so there is a lot of coordination happening.”
Wiegman said it would be up to PECO to decide how an accident at Airport Square could knock out power with a massive electrical surge to Welsh and North Wales roads.
Wiegman echoed what Montgomery Township Police announced for residents experiencing electrical issues and surge damages.
“When we were on scene at Welsh and North Wales roads, a guy from the Upper Gwynedd side of North Wales Road came down and asked who to contact because some of his computer equipment fried when the power went out,” Wiegman said. “It starts with your homeowners insurance and you go through that process. There’s nothing we can do.”
Read the original report on the surge here.
Montgomery Township Police announced on Facebook Tuesday morning that signals at North Wales and Knapp roads and North Wales and Welsh roads are operating with four-way stop signs.
Police said the duration of the incident is dependent on PECO’s ability to repair the lines.
Residents and businesses experiencing outages in their homes should report a damage claim to PECO by calling 1-800-494-4000 or visiting https://www.peco.com/.../customer.../contact-us/damage-claim. Homeowners and renters have the option to open a claim with their respective homeowners insurance provider.
