Crime & Safety

Wires Downed in Storm Cause Sparks to Fly in Richmond Heights

The strong storm caused power outages and downed limbs on Monday in Clayton and Richmond Heights.

A strong storm Monday caused wires to go down behind the house of Richmond Heights resident Adam Magee, who lives in the 700 block of Wise Avenue. Big sparks and fireballs alerted him to the damage.

"I've never seen wind like that in my life," Magee said.

The responded to the scene and taped off the wires. Some homes on the block remained without power as of about 2 p.m.

Downed power lines and tree limbs have been reported throughout the city, a police official said.

"We're staying busy," said Sgt. Doug Schaeffler of the . He said that the 1400 block of Bellevue Avenue experienced downed power lines at one point but that they have since been cleared.

Find out what's happening in Clayton-Richmond Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

About 8 percent of residents  in the 63117 ZIP code that includes Richmond Heights and 3 percent of residents in the 63105 ZIP code that includes Clayton were without power as of 2:40 p.m. following a strong Monday storm, Ameren Missouri reported on its website.

The 8 percent in the 63117 ZIP code represents about 450 customers, up from earlier estimates of about 5 percent and 280 customers. The 3 percent represents approximately 250 customers in the 63105 ZIP code area.

Find out what's happening in Clayton-Richmond Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Across St. Louis County, 48,2046 Ameren customers were without power as of 2:50 p.m. That's about 10 percent of customers the utility serves in the county, down from 11 percent earlier in the afternoon.

Officials with the Clayton and Richmond Heights fire departments were not immediately available for comment.

KMOV reported downed tree limbs in Clayton.

A person who answered the phone at the East Central Dispatch Center was unable to provide details on the extent of storm damage, saying that officials were in the middle of their response effort.

, Maplewood-Brentwood Patch reported.

Those facing an emergency situation are asked to dial 911. To provide details about storm damage, please call editor Nate Birt at 314-422-9441. Photos may be emailed to nate.birt@patch.com.


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