Fallen tree knocks out power to 2,500 in Sugarcreek area
SUGARCREEK (WJER) (Aug. 1, 2025) – American Electric Power crews spent much of Thursday working to get the lights back on in Sugarcreek.
A large tree fell across a transmission line shortly before 8 a.m. and knocked out service for about 2,500 customers, closing many businesses for the day. The power was back on by 5 p.m.
AEP’s Matt Bennett says crews had to deal with steep terrain to replace a 32-foot crossarm holding conductors that snapped.
He says AEP tries its best to identify “danger trees” at risk of falling outside of its right-of-way for trimming and removal, but not all can be predicted.
The CDC says perishable foods such as meat, eggs, and leftovers should be okay in a refrigerator for up to four hours during a power outage if the door is kept closed. Food in a full freezer is good for up to 48 hours and good in a half-full freezer up to 24 hours.