By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Although the torrential downpour flooded some areas of Niles and the power went out on Niles' west side for a while, lightning didn't damage Niles the way it did in other areas nearby.
He said the fire department responded to one call of a smoke detector going off in an apartment at Parkview Apartments at 613 N. Front St. in Niles.
Upon arrival, the fire department found no fire in the apartment, he said.
The sudden, significant rainfall that accompanied Sunday night's thunderstorm caused emergency workers and the city's public works department workers to stay up all night to take care of flooding and smaller branches that came down in the city.
In addition, the fire department responded to one person whose home was flooded by the heavy rain, Lamb said.
Lamb said the fire department also for a while thought they would have to put in a boat to move a person who was unable to walk from his home.
However, alternative transportation was arranged and the boat was not needed to move the person, Lamb said.
Officers were at one point sent out to Fifth Street on reports that a car was flooded.
He said the storm could have been worse, but said the fire department and emergency services always prepare for bad weather. Little information about the power outages was available this morning because the crews working to repair damages were sent home to rest early this morning.