Shopping Center Fire Results in Lines Down, Power Outage, Road Closures

(Updated) Much of the village of New Hartford was shut down on Thursday evening with power lines down across the Arterial, roads closed, and power outages resulting in a fire at the New Hartford Shopping Center.

Update: Authorities say downed power lines across the Arterial following an accident, caused the lines to overheat an exhaust fan at the Family Fun Factory. The fan sent smoke through the facility and patrons were evacuated. No one was injured. Power was restored in New Hartford by National Grid at about 7:30 pm.

Reports of smoke inside the Family Fun Factory at the New Hartford Shopping Center caused evacuations in the shopping outlet, and a response from the New Hartford Fire Department at around 7 PM on Thursday. People were gathered outside the kids play center business and cars were exiting the plaza, all while street lights and power outages were causing havoc around the village.

The Arterial Rt. 5 between the Campion Road exit and the intersection of Rt 12 near the Yanundasis was closed on Thursday evening because of reported downed power lines and a power outage. Traffic was being diverted around the New Hartford Shopping Center. A residential power outage was being reported throughout much of the village and several businesses were closed as a result. Street lights were also shut of because of the outage.