For Immediate Release

Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Topsfield Fire Department Extinguishes Truck Fire

TOPSFIELD – Chief Ronald Giovannacci reports that the Topsfield Fire Department extinguished a fire earlier this week behind Pye Brook Park after a construction worker knocked down a power line that fell and ignited a truck that was on scene.

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 1:40 p.m., the Essex County Regional Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call for a report of an explosion with a large black plume of smoke showing in the area of the Rail Trail behind Pye Brook Park in Topsfield.

Crews arrived on scene and were met by National Grid employees, who stated that a construction worker had accidentally struck a telephone pole while doing power line work, causing a primary line carrying 23,000 volts of electricity to fall onto a truck. The driver was able to exit the vehicle seconds before it caught fire.

Topsfield’s Engine 3, Car 1, Squad 1, Ambulance 1 and Ambulance 2 responded to the scene, along with Topsfield Police, Boxford’s Engine 4, Northeast Regional Ambulance, and representatives from National Grid and the Topsfield Highway Department.

While National Grid de-energized the downed power line, Topsfield firefighters secured the scene to ensure the fire was contained and didn’t spread to adjacent houses and the surrounding wooded area.

After the scene was deemed safe by National Grid, the fire was completely extinguished. No injuries were reported.

A portion of Topsfield was without power for a period of time, but full service was restored later that evening.

###