A tree cut down by a Dayton work crew took out a power line and started a small fire at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 22.
The incident occurred on Dayton Road, about one-half mile west of East Road in the town of Dayton.
“I was working at home on the web and the power went out. About 10 minutes later I heard sirens,” said Casey Plunkett.
Plunkett said he was without power for about 45 minutes.
Waupaca Fire Chief Jeff Olson said firefighters responded to the scene. The flames burned about a 20-foot by 20-foot area, he said.
“We were out there no more than 30 minutes,” Olson said.
Dayton Town Chairman Chris Klein said nobody was injured in the incident.
“The town will review the incident in a safety meeting with all crew members,” Klein said.
When asked to comment on the incident, Klein said, “Power lines are generally located within road right of ways. Many power outages occur from trees falling across power line wires especially during storm events. The Waupaca area has had a number of severe storm events in the past years. Trees adjacent to power lines are a hazard to both the public and to the power lines that require continual maintenance from both power companies and the road maintaining authority.”