Electrical Short Damages Milford Lane Home

The Glen Cove Fire Department reported a large electrical short that caused damage to a home on Milford Lane and burning wires on several neighboring streets Thursday morning.

Fire Department Chief Bill Grella responded to a call from a neighbor reporting a pole and wire down in the backyard of 7 Milford Lane at 8:50 a.m, according to Chief Anthony Tripp.

Upon investigating the visible wire, Grella heard a loud bang and came around the front of the house to find smoke coming out from under the front window, Tripp said.

Grella called for backup at 9:04 a.m., and while firemen investigated the first bang, another loud bang occurred 10 feet away from the team.

"A shot of smoke came out of the front of the house," said Tripp. "We pulled men away; we were afraid of possible electrocution."

The initial cause of the power surge was the hanging wire followed by a radiator in the home that made contact with the ground and shorted out, said Tripp. 

Residents of 7 Milford Lane were not at home at the time of the surge. 

The Milford Lane home was not the only property affected by the short. Locust Valley Fire Department responded to a call from Glen Cove High School reporting that the gymnasium—which is located behind Milford Lane and shares the same power line—smelled of smoke.

The surge also caused wires to burn down a pole on Dosoris Lane, said Tripp.