Aftermath: Thunderous Storm KOs Power To Thousands In Bergen

A severe thunderstorm knocked out power Tuesday afternoon to nearly 5,000 customers throughout Bergen County, while igniting tree, utility pole and house fires, downing wires and darkening traffic lights.

Outside Liberty Travel on Route 4.
Photo Credit: *Douglas Lee for DAILY VOICE*

Burning wires fell into this tree in Hackensack, closing Summit Avenue from Berry to Passaic streets.
Photo Credit: *Cecilia Levine*

Across from Liberty Travel on Route 4.
Photo Credit: *Sonia Raquel*

by Jerry DeMarco & Cecilia Levine

07/03/2018 6:30 p.m.

PSE&G reported those who lost power included:

More than 2,100 customers in Hackensack;
Nearly 1,000 customers each in Fair Lawn, Ho-Ho-Kus and Oradell;
900 or so customers in Westwood;
Dozens of others scattered throughout northeast Bergen;
Nearly 1,000 customers in Clifton and Paterson combined.

Flash flooding plagued motorists on several roadways in both Bergen and Passaic counties.

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ALSO SEE: Three dogs were rescued and no serious injuries were immediately reported after lightning struck a Ridgewood home, igniting an attic fire Tuesday afternoon.

https://mahwah.dailyvoice.com/police-fire/mahwah-pd-neighbor-pulls-gun-after-argument-over-dog-hair-in-kiddie-pool/739399/

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Lightning struck a utility pole outside Liberty Travel on eastbound Route 4 in River Edge. Wires fell and caught fire, keeping people inside the store.

River Edge and Hackensack firefighters who earlier had been at the scene of a facade collapse on Kinderkamarck Road responded.

A four-vehicle collision on the southbound Garden State Parkway in Woodcliff Lake caused a massive traffic jam.

Also:

Utility wires were downed near the Exxon station and Outback restaurant on northbound Route 17 in Rochelle Park;
Downed wires closed Oradell Avenue in the 800 block;
Fire was reported in the woods off Prospect Avenue in Waldwick.

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