Severe thunderstorms that at times showed rotation on radar crossed parts of Marion County Monday night causing power outages, downed tree limbs, as well as removing about half the roof of the Pour House at Selmaville Road and West Main Street. The Salem Fire Protection District believes a lightning strike started a fire in the garage of the Jim Dice home at 1435 North College.
Salem Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Andrew Strong says it appears all the damage is from straight-line winds even though there was a tornado warning in effect at the time the storm hit with the heaviest damage from Patoka southeast through Alma, Salem, and then the southeast section of Marion County. Strong notes there are still a lot of limbs and trees hanging causing dangerous situations that require extreme caution. Damage that is on private property has to be cleaned up by the property owners. The city will do as much as they can to clean right of ways and taking care of city property.
Salem Police report there were employees and customers in the Pour House when the storm hit and blew about half of the roof out on the Selmaville Road. Fortunately, there were no injuries.
Salem Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Bill Fulton says they responded to the Dice home on North College when receiving several reports of smoke coming from the residence. No one was home at the time. Fulton reports they found a fire burning in the attic area of the garage. Two holes were made in the roof of the garage to ensure the fire was out. A golf cart inside was damaged.
Earlier Salem Firemen had been called to a home at 420 South Franklin where a tree and power lines had fallen. The occupant asked for assistance because she was trapped in the home. She was exited out by firemen. Fulton reports they were called to the 500 block of East Bennett where two transformers had exploded and caught fire. A street light, which apparently got too much power, also exploded. Firemen were called to Citation Oil to a report of a fire or explosion, but the problem turned out to be the electricity going out and the large flare turning on by design to burn off excess natural gas.
Salem Firemen received mutual aid assistance at the North College Street Fire from Kinmundy-Alma Fire while Odin and Kell Firemen stood by at the Salem Fire Station to assist in other calls. In all, Salem Firemen handled nine calls. Most others dealt with trees down into powerlines.
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps reported several roads were blocked by falling trees. Other downed trees brought down power lines. One of the incidents was in the parking lot at the Marion County Law Enforcement Center. The center had to remain on emergency power through the overnight hours and Tuesday morning.
The Marion County Fair Midway was open when severe weather warnings were issued and those in attendance went into the exhibit building and under the fair grandstand. A few of the tents blew over.
Salem Police also report one of the large glass windows at the McDonald’s Restaurant broke out and one of the stop lights hung over the Main and Hotze Road intersection fell to the ground.
Patoka Fire Chief Blake Hyde reported one of the major power lines fell from the tall power poles blocking traffic on the Kinoka Road until it could be repaired.
As of five pm, Ameren Illinois reports it has restored power to all customers in Salem and Tri-County reports they are down to 38 customers without power, all in Marion County.
The storms dumped 83 hundredths of an inch of rain at the Salem Water Plant, bringing the three-day rain total to 2.6 inches. The Centralia Water Plant recorded a half-inch of rain for a three-day total of 1.8 inches of precipitation.
The storms dumped 83 hundredths of an inch of rain at the Salem Water Plant, bringing the three-day rain total to 2.6 inches. The Centralia Water Plant recorded a half-inch of rain for a three-day total of 1.8 inches of precipitation.
