Strong storm causes damage to homes in Fall River, fires in Swansea, and a death in Hanover

A strong storm Monday wreaked havoc across southern New England causing flooding, power outages, damage, and even a death.

This morning in Fall River, a tree crashed into a home and a telephone pole on Seabury Street, causing damage to both. Several other locations also had trees down, flooding, telephone pole and wire damage. Many businesses also had to close temporarily due to power outages.

According to the Swansea Fire Department, early this morning, firefighters responded to a report of smoke in a single-family residence on Mount Fair Circle. Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire burning in the attic space of the home and quickly went to work gaining access to extinguish the fire.

As first-arriving crews went to work, they noted smoke coming from the attic of a vacant home next door.

Firefighters forced entry into the home and found a fire burning in the ceiling and walls. Crews from Engines 2, 3, 4, and Ladder 1 worked the scene to simultaneously control both fires.

While the fires are still under investigation, they are believed to be electrical in nature due to the storm.

Also, a man was killed today when high winds and rain caused a tree to collapse on a trailer below, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz announced.

At approximately 9:47 a.m., Hanover Police received a 911 call reporting that they heard a large tree fall outside of the workplace at 99 Industrial Way. The caller reported that the tree had fallen on a small travel trailer and a male victim was trapped inside. Hanover Police and Fire responded to the scene and were able to extricate the victim. from the trailer. The victim had severe head trauma and was transported to South Shore Hospital, where he was pronounced dead of his injuries. He has been identified as Robert Horky, 89, of Hingham.

Hanover Police contacted Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, and an investigation commenced. That investigation. is active and ongoing at this time. There was heavy rainfall and high wind gusts in the area immediately preceding and. during the incident.

At one point Monday morning, nearly 200,000 National Grid customers were without power in Massachusetts.