First Responders had many calls of trees and wires down last evening and this morning, some even caused brush fires. Route 356 was closed between Coal Hollow Road and Route 228 due to a downed tree in wires. First Energy says that over 13,000 customers lost power, they are trying to restore it as soon as possible. The highest wind gust recorded at Butler Airport was 61 miles per hour.
Dispatchers note that a firefighter was run over by a vehicle on Oneida Valley Road last evening as the Oneida Valley Fire Department was responding to a tree down on the road. Our news exchange partners at WPXI Channel 11 were told by Oneida Valley Fire Chief Gary Wulff that the department was called to the 800 block of Oneida Valley Road in Oakland Township at 5:33 p.m. on Friday for reports of a tree down on the road.
While they were at the scene, another tree went down and knocked a firefighter into the side of the road that was still open to traffic, the chief said. That firefighter was then hit by a vehicle.
He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital by ambulance, there is no word on his condition.