The Whitman Fire Department answered more than 20 calls for weather-related issues Wednesday night, including reports of downed trees that had fallen onto homes. (Photo courtesy Whitman Fire Department). 
The Whitman Fire Department answered more than 20 calls for weather-related issues Wednesday night, including reports of downed trees and power lines. (Photo courtesy Whitman Fire Department). 
Tree damage resulting from Wednesday evening’s storms. (Photo courtesy Whitman Fire Department). 
Damage to power lines resulting from Wednesday evening’s storms. (Photo courtesy Whitman Fire Department).
WHITMAN — Chief Timothy Grenno reports that the Whitman Fire Department answered more than 20 calls for weather-related issues Wednesday night, Oct. 7, as a result of the intense storms that hit Plymouth County.
At the height of the storm nearly 30% of the town was without power, and roughly 20% remains without power this morning.
A line of strong thunderstorms passed across Massachusetts Wednesday evening, with wind gusts of up to 60-70 miles per hour according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Results of the storm in Whitman included downed trees that had fallen onto homes and downed power lines blocking roadways.
Notable was a house on Loring Avenue that sustained major damage from a downed tree, as well as a family’s carbon monoxide detector activating due to their generator (the home’s ventilation system pulled CO in from the generator at the roof level and increased levels in the home).
At 5:16 a.m. Thursday morning the Whitman Fire Department responded to a significant shed fire at a home, which destroyed a large shed and caused fire damage to two homes. The fire at the shed was quickly knocked down by crews on scene. The cause of the fire was a generator that was being used as a result of a power outage.
The Hanson and East Bridgewater Fire Departments assisted on scene during Thursday morning’s shed fire, and the Abington Fire Department provided station coverage.
National Grid crews have cleared all downed power lines as of Thursday morning. Significant tree damage still remains in local streets, and power restoration has no estimate at this time.
“I would like to commend the Whitman Fire and Police Departments for their efforts last evening into this morning, as well as the crews that assisted us on scene with this morning’s shed fire,” Chief Grenno said. “This was a serious and fast-moving storm that caused severe lingering damage, and thankfully no injuries were reported as a result.”
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