Heat Causes 2 Power Pole Fires in Hopatcong

Last week's heat wave caused a pair of telephone pole first in Hopatcong, Fire Chief Wade Crowley said.

The fires—on Holiday Drive Thursday and Lakeside Avenue Friday—were most likely the result of overburdened power lines, Crowley said. Nobody was injured in either of the fires.

"That's why they want everybody to cut down their electric usage in heat waves," Crowley said. "Heat causes resistance, which causes fires. But these were nothing major."

"When the temperature is 100 degrees outside, your systems aren't designed to keep your house at 73."

Temperatures in Hopatcong reached 96 degrees on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.