Arlington Heights police, firefighters and paramedics responded beginning about 11:55 a.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2021 to a number of incidents related to a downed power line in the block of 1200 North Walnut Avenue in Arlington Heights. Initially about 300 ComEd customers lost power Wednesday around noon. By 1:40 p.m. ComEd workers isolated the outage to about 59 customers mostly near Walnut Avenue and Olive Street.
The downed power line likely caused several activated alarms and a circuit breaker to turn off near Evergreen Avenue and Maude Avenue.
The first alarm was a fire alarm activated at 11:55 a.m. at Windsor Woods Condominiums at 2604 North Windsor Drive in Arlington Heights. No fire, smoke or hazards were present at the scene.
Next, at 11:58 a.m. firefighters were dispatched to a report of a sparking power line near the strip mall at the southwest corner of Arlington Heights Road and Palatine Road at 25 East Palatine Road in Arlington Heights. ComEd was on the scene at Palatine Road and Arlington Heights Road by 12:15 p.m.
Next, at 11:59 a.m firefighters received a report of an odor investigation at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 North Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights. No hazards were found and the odor was likely related to an issue along the power lines at the back of the property or from exhaust from the automatic power generator supplying the building.
Next, at 12:06 p.m. neighbors reported a downed power line in the block of 1200 North Walnut Avenue between Olive Street and Clarendon Road. A power line was down in a backyard near a large trampoline and also near a chain link fence. The line was active and arcing, and burned about 3 feet of short lawn grass. There was also a report of a pole on fire at the Walnut Avenue scene.
Next, at 12:14 p.m. firefighters were dispatched for an elevator rescue for a stalled elevator in a 2-story professional office building at 1640 North Arlington Heights Road. One person was stranded in the unpowered elevator.
Power was out at several commercial buildings from Thomas Street to Palatine Road and at homes in that area west of Arlington Heights Road. ComEd reported a circuit was switched off in the area of Evergreen Avenue and Maude Avenue. The circuit probably flipped in response to the other power disturbances.
Power was also disrupted for about a second or less east of Arlington Heights Road in the area of the power line issues.
Initially it was unknown whether any burglar alarms were activated. Arlington Heights police officers also responded to several of the scenes to provide assistance with protection from hazards.
ComEd Report After Isolation of Issues
ComEd Report North of Olive
Customers Affected
29Status
Crews WorkingProbable Cause
Downed wiresEstimated Restoration
Jul 21, 2021, 4:30 PMEarliest Report
Jul 21, 2021, 12:00 PM— ComEd
ComEd Report South of Olive
Customers Affected
30Status
Scheduling CrewProbable Cause
Downed wiresEstimated Restoration
Jul 21, 2021, 2:30 PMEarliest Report
Jul 21, 2021, 12:21 PM— ComEd
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