High Wind Causes Difficulties in Pa.

Nov. 25--High winds kept Mid-Mon Valley firefighters, police and emergency responders busy Monday as gusts exceeding 40 mph downed trees and knocked out power to area residents.

In Carroll, a large tree fell onto a pickup truck traveling down Columbia Road around 2 p.m. An unidentified male driver and female passenger were reportedly taken to Jefferson Hospital for evaluation.

Carroll fire Chief Rob Greenlee said the truck was towing a hay bailer when the tree came crashing down.

"It flattened the hood of the truck and one of the branches went through the windshield," Greenlee said. "Another foot and it would have crashed into the cab."

The township road department had to remove the tree with a lift machine, the chief said. The tree also brought down phone lines, according to Greenlee.

The male driver of the truck was placed on a backboard support with a neck brace by emergency responders.

Carroll police were unable to provide additional information before presstime Monday night.

In Rostraver, firefighters kept a brush fire on a Municipal Drive property from spreading.

A resident said she was burning the carcass of a bird that had been dragged into the house by her cat when some dry weeds caught fire and quickly spread.

Firefighters doused trees and the ground, which had been charred by the flames.

Firefighters from Rostraver Central and Smithton, including respective chiefs Vince Campbell and Joel Ribniscky, were able to control the blaze before it reached the woman's house and a nearby field. A wooden shed close to the burn area was not damaged.

The woman, who declined to be identified, was apologetic to firefighters and Rostraver police.

Ribniscky, a district fire warden for the state Department of Conversation and Natural Resources, said the windy conditions could've spread the fire rapidly.

Ribniscky warned residents to never to start uncontained fires outdoors, particularly on windy days.

In Fallowfield, fire Chief Anthony Fleming confirmed numerous power outages caused by wind knocking down wires along Freemont Road.

Fleming added his department responded to several calls for downed trees blocking roadways. He described the problems as "nothing major."

In Forward, firefighters removed a tree that fell along Rostosky Ridge Road around 5:30 p.m., chief Steve Pierce said.

According to First Energy Corp., scattered power outages were reported in North Belle Vernon, Monongahela, Monessen, Nottingham, Rostraver, Union, Bentleyville and Ellsworth.

West Penn Power also reported numerous outages Monday afternoon along the Allegheny-Washington county line, including the vicinity of Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, the Elrama area and the area around the Large interchange of the Mon/Fayette Expressway.

Other outages were reported in the Mount Vernon area of Elizabeth Township.

The company said all power was expected to be restored by Tuesday evening or sooner.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation encouraged drivers to be prepared and to change Thanksgiving travel plans if necessary.

"Our first priority should be to arrive safely, even if it takes more time to reach our destinations," state transportation Secretary Barry J. Schoch said.

Schoch said PennDOT crews may extend shifts to have 24-hour coverage and will work through the holiday as necessary.

A powerful nor'easter is expected to dump rain and snow from northern West Virginia through New England, delivering treacherous travel conditions for western Pennsylvanians who plan to head east for Thanksgiving, the National Weather Service said.

"It looks like Wednesday will be a really bad day for traveling," said Rihaan Gangat, a meteorologist at the agency's Moon office. "If you are traveling east, be careful and pay attention out there."

Western Pennsylvania likely will miss much of the rain and snow, though forecasters expect six inches or more of snow in parts of West Virginia and central Pennsylvania.

"Right now, it is uncertain where exactly that track will come," Gangat said. "But it certainly appears that it will be to the east of us."

The storm should pass through by Thursday morning, he said.

Rick Bruni Jr. is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at rbruni@tribweb.com or 724-684-2635. Trib Total Media staff writer Jason Cato contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 - The Valley Independent, Monessen, Pa.