A fallen utility pole and wires were linked to a fire at an Oceanside home late Saturday, where officers brought an 84-year-old woman to safety; no injuries were reported. Police information carried by Patch and News 12 also says the Oceanside Fire Department responded.
The fire followed a nor’easter that battered Long Island Saturday. Newsday reported damaging winds, coastal flooding, downed trees and widespread outages, with forecast sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 65 mph in Nassau and Suffolk counties. By Sunday morning, 23,668 customers were without power across Long Island, and more than 700 trees and 440 large branches had come down, according to Daily Voice.
Storm outages and utility oversight
The available information does not quantify how often major storms have caused outages specifically on Long Island or identify current reliability measures. A statewide precedent: the New York State Public Service Commission’s April 2019 order said the 2018 winter and spring storms affected customers throughout New York State and prompted an investigation of utility storm preparation and response. That review concerned earlier storms statewide, not the Oceanside fire, according to the New York State Public Service Commission.
According to police information reported by Patch and News 12, Fourth Precinct officers were called to Harding Street at about 11 p.m. They found a utility pole down, wires on the ground and fire on the exterior of the residence. Officers used an extinguisher from a patrol vehicle to limit the flames, then went inside and escorted the woman out.
