Tree Downs 9 Utility Poles, Causing Fairfield Closures

FAIRFIELD, CT — Town offices were closed Monday after a large tree fell, downing nine utility poles near Old Town Hall, as a result of a major storm that blew through Fairfield on Sunday. The tree also blocked Old Post Road, which was expected to remain closed between Oldfield and Beach roads until at least Tuesday evening.

The storm, which came through Fairfield mid afternoon Sunday and caused one fatality, was worst in the beach area between South Pine Creek Road and Jennings Beach, according to Fairfield police Capt. Robert Kalamaras. Fairfield resident David L. Schmerzler, 54, was killed when a tree branch fell on his vehicle during the storm while he was driving in the 3300 block of Sturges Highway. There were no other injuries due to the severe weather, Kalamaras said.

First Selectman Mike Tetreau said the downed poles left the neighborhood around Old Town Hall without power and one of the town's generators failed as well, causing the town phone system to go down. Phone and internet service was unreliable all day Monday for the town, according to Tetreau.

"We just thought it was better for everybody to stay away," he said.

Tetreau said Fairfield tests its generators monthly and there are plans to conduct an analysis later in July of the issues the town experienced after the storm.

Fairfield police stated Monday evening on Twitter that town offices would be open Tuesday, but that they would only be accessible from Beach Road, as Old Post Road would remain closed until Tuesday evening at the earliest.

Late Sunday afternoon, 22 percent of Fairfield was without power, but Kalamaras said by Monday afternoon the majority of outages had been restored.

"If you see downed wires we suggest you call police immediately so that we can respond," he said, adding most of the power lines that were unsafe after the storm had been addressed by utility crews.

Several large tree limbs snapped Sunday all over town, hitting wires and causing road closures, but as of Monday afternoon Old Post Road was the only major remaining closure, according to Kalamaras. Debris such as branches may still need to be picked up by public works employees. Kalamaras said police were hopeful that utilities would be fully restored and all roads would be cleared sometime Tuesday.

The Bigelow Center for Senior Activities announced it was closed Monday due to storm damage. The Fairfield Parks and Recreation Department stated on Facebook it was also closed Monday because of a power outage.

A storm Saturday forced the temporary closure of Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.