No injuries as Rocky River High School Cell light tower catches fire
"At 5:53 p.m., a single-engine company was dispatched regarding a fire on a light pole consisting of stadium lights and cell phone tower equipment,"
Rocky River
A heavy plume of gray smoke hovered over the Rocky River High School stadium around 6 p.m. Monday night as a light tower caught fire and burned.
Fire Chief Aaron Lenart said the cause for the fire, which was contained to the inside of the pole, is under investigation. “This is the first time I have ever seen anything like this,” he remarked.
There were no injuries, and a Rocky River Fire Department report stated a safety zone was established around the electrified pole, which started to lean back toward homes on Northview Road behind the stadium. Police evacuated the homes and Lakewood Fire assisted by securing a water source and standing by on Northview in case of a collapse.
Mike Ressler, an Illuminating Company supervisor, disconnected power to the pole, leaving cell tower equipment still electrified. Power was shut off at the high school, which was unoccupied at the time.
The cell equipment is leased by AT&T, which was contacted but unable to find a record of the tower in their system. Owner representative Stacy Hare said he would follow up.
All power was back in service by 7 p.m.
Read it at http://westlife.northcoastnow.com/2017/02/no-injuries-as-rrhs-light-tower-catches-fire/
Rocky River Fire Department extinguishes high school stadium tower fire
ROCKY RIVER, Ohio - Rocky River Fire Department responded to a light tower fire Monday evening at the high school stadium.
"At 5:53 p.m., a single-engine company was dispatched regarding a fire on a light pole consisting of stadium lights and cell phone tower equipment," Rocky River Fire Chief Aaron Lenart said. "The guys could see the smoke in the air when they left the station.
"On arrival, they had heavy smoke showing from multiple hole openings from the tower. It was on the backside of the stadium property near Northview Road. We threw a couple thousand gallons of water to cool the tower down. At this point, we don't have any idea what caused the fire."
Due to President's Day, Rocky River High School was not in session yesterday; however, the lacrosse team did hold its first practice of the year at the Detroit Road stadium.
"The athletic director (Mark Wagner) met with coaches to show them how to turn on the lights," Rocky River City Schools Communications & Technology Executive Director Dianna R. Foley said.
"They turned on series of lights. After the lights were on, they realized there was a problem and they turned them off. Everybody was sent out of the stadium, and the fire department was called."
The damaged tower, located roughly near the 50-yard line of the stadium, is warped and currently leaning slightly. Lenart said a Lakewood Fire Department engine was also called to the scene as a precautionary measure in case the tower should fall. There were no injuries.
Lenart added. "This is the first time I've ever dealt with anything like this in my career."
