Fire Caused La Grange Area Internet Outage: Agency

LA GRANGE PARK, IL – A fire in La Grange Park on Wednesday caused an internet outage in La Grange and La Grange Park, among other areas, authorities said.

An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 users were affected, officials said. By early afternoon, most service was reported as restored.

About 6 a.m., a utility pole was on fire next to the house at 1036 Sherwood Road in La Grange Park, the local fire department said.

After the incident, firefighters discovered a major Comcast fiber optic line was severely damaged, causing the outage, according to a fire department news release.

Also affected were voice over internet protocol systems, or VoIP, the department said.

Firefighters found the top of the burning utility pole snapped off, hanging in the air supported by wires.

The houses on both sides of the pole were evacuated. Firefighters sprayed brush and the roof of one of the homes, where embers were dropping, the news release said.

ComEd arrived quickly, but power had to be isolated to de-energize lines directly involved in the fire before firefighters could put it out, the department said.

Firefighters said they had no reports of injuries or damage to the homes.

The damage to the pole and the later fire were believed to be weather-related.