Storm Knocks Out Fire Department Phones

Recent violent storms have plagued Glen Ellyn residents by knocking out power, snapping tree limbs and damaging homes. 

The latest casualty of the storm was the phone line between the two fire stations and the thermostat at station two after the most recent storm.  

"We just had to keep making cell phone calls," said Craig Eldrige, spokesperson for the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Department.

At Monday's village board meeting trustees approved a new $16,000 program to replace the old phone system. 

Eldridge thinks station two, 681 Taft Ave., was hit by lightning, which also fried the thermostat. Eldridge said there was no damage to the building and no injuries but firefighters were unable to reach one another for at least five minutes around 2 a.m. Eldridge said service to residents was unaffected during the down time, which he said was about a week ago.

According to Eldridge, the phone system is "antiquated' and works like a walkie-talkie radio between the two stations, allowing firefigthers to communicate with one another.

Since the system is practically obsolete, Eldridge said the storm just helped to expedite the process of setting up a new phone system.