Piece of James Baptist topples; high winds knock out power
Environment Canada issued a wind warning
The Hamilton Spectator (Monday, November 24, 2014)
A piece of the wall of the former James Baptist Church has collapsed.
The collapse – which occurred just before 4.30 p.m. Monday – happened while reports of high winds hit the city.
The Hamilton Fire Department is at two calls related to the winds: one in Dundas involving power going on and off at a Grant Boulevard apartment building, and the second involving down hydro wires in a parking lot behind St. Ann Catholic Elementary School in Ancaster.
Mardo Erazo, who works at the YMCA across from the former church, described the wall section as sizable. He said it landed on a car parked in alleyway between the old church and a next door business.
"It looks like a whole window," he said.
Erazo said it has been windy downtown most of the most of the day.
Meanwhile, power is out for about 100 customers in the Lynden area and 1,000 customers from the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway to Wilson Street and Highway 403 in Ancaster. Hydro One crews have been dispatched.
Nancy Shaddick of Hydro One said about 32,000 customers are without power in western Ontario – the Chatham-Kent and Strathroy areas – but it is expecting more as the wind storm moves east.
Gusting winds are creating dangerous conditions across Hamilton and the surrounding area.
Trees are down, blocking roadways and sidewalks, hydro poles are wobbling and in danger of collapsing in some locations and a portion of the James Baptist church has fallen to the street downtown.
Environment Canada issued a warning Monday of sustained wind of 60 to 70 km/h with gusts of up to 90 to 100 km/h.
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