Downed tree cuts power, forces seniors from home
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

CLARE MARIE CELANO A utility pole holding transformers lays on Stokes Street, Freehold Borough, after it was brought down by a falling tree on the afternoon of June 26. Power was lost at homes in the immediate area.

FREEHOLD - A downed tree caused a power outage in a section of the borough and led to 13 residents of a home for senior citizens being evacuated in the late afternoon hours of June 26.

According to police Lt. Glenn Roberts, police began receiving calls shortly after 5 p.m. when a large mature tree fell and brought down a pole holding power transformers on Stokes Street, just off Broad Street.

Power went out at the Freehold Manor, which is a residential health-care facility at the corner of Broad and Stokes streets, and to several homes on Stokes Street. The area surrounding Borough Plaza, Broad Street, was also affected.

Sections of Broad and Stokes streets were closed because of the tree. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, Roberts said.

Mayor Michael Wilson, code enforcement officials, police, fire and first aid personnel were at the scene quickly.

Roberts said police Sgt. Michael Sweetman coordinated the effort to get things back to normal in the area and his first priority was the residents of Freehold Manor.

A transportation effort was quickly coordinated and the 13 residents were taken by ambulances to CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, where they remained until telephone service was restored.

Roberts said although Jersey Central Power and Light employees repaired the power lines within 18 hours, telephone service was not yet operational at that time and residents of the Freehold Manor could not return until the phones were in working order.

Roberts commended CentraState Medical Center personnel for immediately responding with support and kindness to the police department's request for them to care for the Freehold Manor residents who needed air conditioning while the power at their residence was out.

The Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, the Marlboro First Aid Squad, the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad and the Colts Neck First Aid Squad all responded to the scene.

While police officers monitored the scene and rerouted traffic, utility company workers were assessing the damage and beginning the process of making repairs.

Sand was placed on fluid that was leaking from the transformer containers. Code enforcement official Danny Megill said the leaking fluid was mineral oil.

Roberts said sparking from the downed transformers burned a hole in the asphalt and caused a fire in the road, something he said rarely occurs. He said borough employees cut up the tree in order to remove it from the street.

Roberts said Sweetman did a "great job coordinating everything at the scene."