Community Volunteer Fire Company #1 Responded to Crash Involving Downed Power Lines

Wayne, N.J. — October 29 — On Thursday, the Community Volunteer Fire Company #1, Inc.and the P.O.L.Fire Company #2 were dispatched to Wayne Township following a motor vehicle collision that resulted in the destruction of a utility pole and the severance of electrical wires.

Around the time the incident was dispatched, emergency crews were deployed to the intersection of Mountainview Boulevard and Taylor Drive in response to a reported vehicular fire. Upon arrival, however, responders discovered not an active blaze, but a single-vehicle collision wherein the vehicle had impacted and severed a utility pole. Consequently, electrical conductors and a transformer had cascaded onto the vehicle, creating a hazardous electrical situation rather than a combustion event.

Having extricated themselves prior to the arrival of fire suppression personnel, the driver was subsequently transferred to emergency medical services for assessment, while crews verified that no vehicular fire was present.

In response to significant electrical dangers, fire personnel cordoned off the immediate vicinity, ensuring that both responders and bystanders maintained a safe distance from the compromised apparatus. Utility representatives from PSE&G were summoned to the scene to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the damaged pole, transformer, and electrical infrastructure; consequently, firefighting units remained in place until the utility crew arrived. Once the hazardous conditions had been adequately mitigated by the utility company, the fire department cleared the area.

The incident necessitated a multi-agency response, requiring seamless coordination among fire services, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement, and utility staff. Adhering to PSE&G safety protocols, it is imperative to treat any downed electrical conductors as live until utility personnel explicitly verify that they are de-energized. Community Volunteer Fire Company #1 functioned between 93-97 Parish Drive, providing service to the lower sector of Wayne Township.