Phone service back on in Northfield

NORTHFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Phone service is back on for Northfield Verizon land-line customers after a day of busy signals.

According to Ellen Cummings, Verizon Regional Director of Public Affairs for Central and Western Massachusetts, service for many residents went out after windy weather caused a tree to fall on lines.

The phone and electric lines on Main Street in Gill caught fire and cut much of Northfield off from the rest of the system at around 5 in the morning.

Service came back up for most residents just before 4 in the afternoon, though some residents could experience intermittent problems as the repair work continues.

Northfield resident Shirley Parker says she didn't even realize her phone was out at first.

"I would have just thought the line was busy, wherever I was trying to call," said Shirley.

She found out about the problem when her son showed up on her doorstep worried because she hadn't answered her phone for hours.

Residents in Northfield faced a variety of situations. Some say they had no problems making call, while most could only make calls in town. Others couldn't connect anywhere.

It caused problems for the town's 911 service.

Northfield Fire Chief Skip Dunnell says they had to man their volunteer fire department all day, because phones were being redirected there, instead of the Shelburne Control 911 center.

"In the past, we've had a couple of other communications issues, but being in a small community when a trunk line goes down, you get pretty isolated and you have to use different methods, we're adapting to the situation," said Dunnell.

Keri Peila says they've had a harder time adapting where she worked at the IGA Super Market.

"Its very frustrating," said Peila. "We can't make any orders can't do any lottery, credit cards, nothing. It's been really hectic."

"We also have people calling in asking about the phone lines, local people, calling in saying, what's with the phone lines," said Jennifer Trumbull.

While Verizon land-line service is back up for the most part, some residents say they've had a few issues, as the repair work is finished.