Snapped Power Lines Cause Small Fire at N. Merrick Home

Power lines snapped off of a North Merrick home Monday night setting an air conditioner ablaze and causing minor damage to a garage.  

"It scared the hell out of me," said Donna Dyrstad, who was inside the home at 969 Putnam Ave. with her son when the wires came crashing off of the house. 

The Dyrstads quickly found the exit as fire and police crews raced to the scene just after 9:30 p.m. The wires fell off right next to Dyrstad's bedroom window, which was home to an air conditioner unit. 

Sparks from the power lines ignited the air conditioner and firefighters were forced to knock it out of the window, Dyrstad said.

Dyrstad's son, who did not give his name, said he thought about tossing water onto the wires, which landed atop the garage, but he was told by firefighters that would have been a bad idea considering they were live electrical wires. 

Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) remained on the scene at 11:30 p.m. Monday night attempting to reconnect wires and restore power to the home, which was expected to take a couple of hours.

Weather is not believed to have played a factor in the incident as skies were clear at the time. Dyrstad's son said officials told them that the old age of the wires and electrical setup may have played a role.

Donna Dyrstad's bedroom, which was strewn with clothes in preparation for an upcoming cruise, as well as the rest of the inside of the home, did not suffer any damage.