Strong Storm Hits; Causes Minor Damage, Traps Fire Crew (With Photo Gallery)

June 4, 2011

A surprise heavy thunderstorm in North Escambia Friday afternoon caused scattered damage in several communities, prompted reports of a tornado and even led to a crew being trapped in a fire truck.

The first reports of damage came from Barth Lane where several residents reported a possible tornado touchdown just after 5 p.m. Other residents reported seeing a possible funnel cloud above the treetops. There was minor damage reported with small tree limbs downed, a shed damaged and outside items tossed about. First responders reported hail in the area of Champion Drive in McDavid shortly after the reported tornado sightings.

For a photo gallery of damage around the area, click here.

There was no tornado indicated on radar in the area, according to the National Weather Service.

Trees and power lines were reported down in several locations in Barth, Molino, Barrineau Park and near Enon. There was an area of concentrated minor damage in the area of Barrineau Park Road, Barrineau Park School Road, Highway 99 and Settle Road where trees and power lines were downed. One home on South Highway 99 near Black Berry Lane received minor damage with vinyl siding ripped from the side of the two story home and a trampoline tossed over a chain link fence. A tree was also downed in the roadway on Molino Road near Highway 95A.

Those downed power lines caused problems for three volunteers with the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.  While responding to damage reports, their fire truck collided with falling power lines on Barrineau Park Road just west of Barrineau Park School Road. After hitting the Gulf Power lines, the truck became entangled in additional downed lines.

The fire department volunteers spent about 20 minutes trapped in their fire truck as they waited for Gulf Power to arrive and cut power to the electrical system in the area. As they waited, power lines could been seen near the truck arcing and causing tree limbs to smolder.

The firemen were uninjured in the incident. The fire engine received minor damage in the incident.

Gulf Power Company said about 1,500 customers in the Molino area lost power as a result of the storm. An unknown number of Bright House Networks customers lost power and internet service as well.

A few Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers also lost power. On South Highway 99 just south of Highway 97-A, downed power lines sparked a brush fire over several acres. The Molino and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Florida Division of Forestry were able to contain the blaze with no damage to nearby structures.

For a photo gallery of damage around the area, click here.

Pictured top: Three Molino firefighters were trapped in their truck after hitting power lines on Barrineau Park Road Friday afternoon. Pictured top inset: A large tree limb was downed on Barrineau Park School Road. Pictured bottom inset: This trampoline was tossed over a fence at this home on South Highway 99 near Black Berry Lane. Siding was also ripped from the home. Pictured below: Downed power lines sparked a brush fire on South Highway 99 just south of Highway 97-A. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Strong Storm Hits; Causes Minor Damage, Traps Fire Crew (With Photo Gallery)”

  1. Byrneville Resident on June 5th, 2011 9:53 pm

    I was driving through this area Friday evening on Hwy. 29 with my husband and daughter in the car with me. When we approached the area of Tom Thumb @ the blinking light, the rain became so heavy we could not see the road and the winds felt like they would push us off the roadway. We turned into the Aldersgate Methodist Church driveway and pulled around behind it. The strong winds were coming from the east and so the building provided a great “windbreak” for us. God took care of us, but it was really scary for a while. Thank You God! and Thanks Aldersgate for LITERALLY being our shelter in a time of storm!!

  2. McDavid Resident on June 5th, 2011 8:39 pm

    We left home with everything in place. We came home to a mess!! There where limbs (not small ones either) all oer the yard and a split Oak tree with the limb laying on the house. Did not puntucre any holes, how lucky we were. The limbs that where taken out of the trees, went about half way across the yard. Looked like we got about 2″ inches of rain and quick from what we saw and where told. Tornado or not, we were lucky considering how close everything was a months ago in the McDavid area.

  3. js on June 5th, 2011 12:18 am

    lights wint out on Brickton rd out for 4 hours hot Back on 9.15 that night
    thank you Gulf power

  4. Kay on June 4th, 2011 1:13 pm

    Yes I agree with Jane,
    Thanks to ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONERS. As usuall THEY did a GREAT JOB.

    That had to be real scary for the crew who were tangled in the lines. Live
    power lines are nothing to snear at EVER..

    Thanks again to ALL OF YOU.

  5. Jane on June 4th, 2011 10:22 am

    And when I said I bet that was a tornado everyone laughed…bet they aren’t now. So why didn’t the weather people tell anyone it was a strong storm, instead of saying “might see some rain from this thunderstorm”??? Not even Noaa had a warning for us! Thank goodness for the good guys…Gulf Power who worked out there until 3am and the fire department and first responers! Thank you all!

  6. 429SCJ on June 4th, 2011 5:55 am

    I saw a great deal of debris on Ala 87 and 112, it appeared that area recieved a good soaking., a nice cool evening.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News