Chester Fire responds to downed power line

<p dir="ltr"><span>The Chester Fire Department was called out to the report of a downed power line on Thursday night just prior to 8 p.m.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>The line involved was connected to the home of Larry and Janet Baldwin at 755 State St.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"At about 8 p.m. we started seeing the lights flicker," Larry Baldwin said. "Before long, the power went off and we were in total darkness." </span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>A neighbor reported the power line arcing and sparking before breaking and falling onto the street below.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Firefighters and Chester police officers blocked State Street at both the First United Methodist Church and in front of Dr. John Beck's house further down the street.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"We are just keeping people away from the downed line," said Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert. "The line which broke was still live when we got here on the side of the street opposite of Baldwin's house at 855 State. </span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"The biggest portion of the line, which was still connected to Baldwin's house, appeared to be alright, but we always like to wait until Ameren gets here to make sure."</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Baldwin said his house has been having issues with the power since the pole itself was hit by a car, broken and subsequently replaced earlier this year.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Ameren Illinois workers showed up at the scene at 8:45 p.m. and immediately addressed the issues with the downed wire.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"Fireman Danny Hecht was really nice to us when he arrived on the scene," Baldwin said. "He let us have his big fire department flashlight to use to get around the house while it was pitch dark."</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>There were no injuries associated with the incident and everything seemed under control by 9 p.m.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"It appears as if the line just broke for no apparent reason," Bert said. "That happens sometimes and it just becomes important to keep people away from the 'hot' portions of the wire until it can be sure that it completely safe."</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>The CFD was paged out at 3:06 a.m. Friday morning to set up a landing zone for an ARCH helicopter after a single-vehicle rollover on State Route 150 by St. Mary's Covered Bridge.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>Bert told the Herald Tribune that dense fog prevented the ARCH helicopter from landing, but one from Perryville was later able to transport the victim, who was ejected from the vehicle.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>The accident reportedly occurred around 1 a.m., but wasn't discovered until a passerby reported it.</span>

<p dir="ltr"><span>"Somebody drove past and saw it out in the field," Bert said.</span>

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office told the newspaper the accident report hadn't yet been turned in by the responding deputy as of Friday morning.