Brief Storm Wreaks Havoc in Fairfield *Video Added*

A brief but violent storm wreaked havoc in Fairfield this afternoon, felling trees and wires and knocking out power to traffic lights on Black Rock Turnpike, one of the town's two main traffic arteries.

Firefighters and police officers raced around town in response to reports of trees that fell onto houses on Congress Street and Autumn Ridge Road and reports of trees and wires across roadways in numerous locations. Firefighters also responded to Bridgeport on a report of a collapsed building, which is part of the department's mutual aid agreement with other Fire Departments.

Town Department of Public Works' crews were dispatched to cut up and clear trees off roads.

"At its height, it was probably over 20 calls," Acting Police Chief Gary MacNamara said. "Fortunately it was quick moving...The brief time it spent here, it did wreak havoc in Fairfield."

MacNamara said about 4:45 p.m. that he wasn't aware of any injuries associated with the storm.

Firefighters weren't immediately available to talk about the widespread damage, but it appeared that the town's Greenfield Hill neighborhood was especially hard hit.

Some roads, including upper Black Rock Turnpike and South Benson Road, were closed to traffic due to fallen wires and trees, and traffic lights on a large section of Black Rock Turnpike weren't operating. In Fairfield, about 2,200 households were without power about 4:20 p.m., according to United Illuminating.

The storm didn't last long, but it caused a lot of damage. Bridgeport was especially hard hit and Bridgeport Mayor William Finch declared a state of emergency. There was an unconfirmed report that a tornado touched down in Bridgeport.

"We certainly didn't have the magnitude of damage that Bridgeport had," MacNamara said.