Storms knock out power to some; weather prompts Crockery fire prevention open house postponement

Mon, Sep 28, 2009    to del.icio.us

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) — A heavy thunderstorm swept through the western and southwestern portions of the state Sunday night, knocking out power to about 3,800 Michigan utility customers and canceling a local fire department's open house.

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CMS Energy Corp. spokesman Kevin Keane said this morning that residential and business customers began losing power about 10:30 p.m. Sunday. He said 90 reports were scattered throughout Kent, Ottawa, Clinton, Kalamazoo, Van Buren and Muskegon counties.

With inclement weather in the forecast, the Crockery Township Fire Department decided to postpone its annual fire prevention open house — scheduled for this evening — by one week, Fire Chief Gary Dreyer said.

The open house will now take place Monday, Oct. 5, from 6-9 p.m. at the township fire station at 16875 Main St. in Nunica. The event will feature a bounce house and fire truck rides, Dreyer said.

With rain and high winds in the forecast, the decision to postpone the open house was made late Sunday, Dreyer said. AeroMed was also planned to fly in for the open house, he said, but would have been grounded by the winds.

"We looked at the forecast, and there's a good chance we're going to be called out for downed wires," Dreyer said. "So it's a decision of what's the better use of your man-hours."

Keane said Consumers Energy customers should have power restored by late- to mid-afternoon today, barring any further damage caused by expected high winds.

A high wind warning is in effect for the state's western shoreline until 5 a.m. Tuesday, with gusts to near 60 mph today, according to the National Weather Service. That has the potential for tree damage and sporadic power outages.

A wind advisory is in effect for the Lower Peninsula.

— Tribune reporter Brian Keilen contributed to this report.