Large power outage snarls busy McKnight Road traffic

On Friday, December 3, 2010 at approximately 10:05a.m. as fire units were dispatched to a commercial fire alarm at JC Penney Ross Park Mall , multiple calls began coming into the 9-1-1 center reporting a transformer on fire in the rear of Bed Bath & Beyond on McKnight Road in Ross Township. Berkley Hills (Station 247) Chief officer arrived on the scene at Bed Bath & Beyond and reported a working transformer fire in the wooded area to the rear of the business. Investigation also revealed very high voltage lines down, with others about to fall, in the area of the Waldorf Park Apartment complex. Duquesne Light was notified of the priority of the incident and responded quickly to the scene to assess the situation.

Due to the power outage multiple other fire and burglar alarms were activated in the immediate area, keeping fire and police units busy. Ross Township Fire Police responded to the scene for traffic control in the area of the downed lines, as well as set up generators to power the traffic lights along McKnight Road, to assist with snarled Christmas shopping traffic along busy McKnight Road.

At approximately 10:50a.m. fire units were dispatched to the Waldorf Park Apartment hi-rise (Building C), as the Duquesne Light repairman reported an odor of something burning within the multi-unit structure. Crews investigated and found the source of the odor to be from the emergency generator in the building.

According to Duquesne Light it is estimated that power could be out along the McKnight Road cooridor for approximately 8 hours, until repairs are completed.