Tree falls on Smith Street home, power lines

By Kristin Will

Staff Writer, kwill@turley.com

SOUTH HADLEY - Saturday morning’s forceful winds caused the majority of a large, dead tree to fall on top of the roof of a home located at 5 Smith Street, taking power lines down with it.

Residents were inside at the time of the incident, but were able to safely exit the home unharmed.

A neighbor, Marc Tonntti, said his wife heard and saw the tree fall on the home. “I assessed the area and called the police,” said Tonntti.

South Hadley Fire District 1 responded to the incident at 10:53 a.m. and secured the area with South Hadley Police.

Because the power lines were live, the South Hadley Electric Light Department was called to the scene. The power was shut off while firefighters attached rope to the tree trunk resting precariously on top of the roof, pulling it down off the home and away from the power lines. In order to remove the massive tree from the location, it was cut into pieces and carried out.

Fire Captain James Pula said there might be some damage to the roof and possibly to the interior of the residence as well.