Update: City Faces Irene, Gallery And Latest News

Woonsocket fire and rescue personnel are working frantically across the city to remove debris from roadways and block off downed power lines as winds and heavy rain from Hurricane Irene create hazardous conditions.

The first reports of major damage in Woonsocket came in around 9 a.m. when a tree fell across the road on Third Avenue, shutting off power to homes throughout the Fairmount area.

Live wires in the roadways at Harrison Avenue and also on Pond Street were the cause of the next series of calls. Three people got stuck in the elevator at Parkview Apartments between the 9th and 10th floors during the resulting power outage, but by 11 a.m. they were safely removed.

Traffic lights throughout the city are out, including several downtown on South Main and Main Streets. Trees have been reported in roadways on River Street, Lincoln Street, Front Street and South Main Street by Holy Family Church. Flooding on Manville Road could damage smaller vehicles. Drivers are advised to stay off the roadways.

Around 11:30 a.m. a large tree fell on Rhode Island Avenue across the entrance to Mt. Vernon Apartments, cutting power to most of the Bernon District. National Grid reports that more than 150,000 statewide are currently without power.

Update: A generator exploded outside of the Woonsocket Animal Shelter on Cumberland Hill Road. The building appears unharmed and no major fire damage seems to have occured. On 8th Ave., a large tree fell onto the roof of building 315 and into a driveway area of another building causing damage in the 200 block.

On Hamlet Avenue, downed power lines closed the road from Grove Street to the intersection of Manville Road. Trees on the railroad tracks may have also set off alarms and arms at the railroad crossing, further blocking the Hamlet and Manville intersection.

Emergency vehicles and personnel are spread thin throughout the city. Fire and public works employees have been activated, and workers and volunteers are using their own vehicles to clear debris from roadways. Neighborhood volunteers were at work with a chainsaw removing trees from the tracks from the Providence/Worcester line. 

To further complicate emergency efforts, power outages have triggered multiple alarms at businesses and condominiums in Woonsocket. Workers must clear each alarm, and had reported to buildings including Patriot Diner, CVS, and RiverzEdge Condominiums on Sunday afternoon.   

Update: National Grid reports that as of 4 p.m. 6,475 city homes were without power. "We do have crews on the road right now, the problem is the winds continue to be very strong and it creates a problem getting those buckets up," said David Graves, National Grid spokesman. "But as the wind subsides, they're out there and working on it."

See the gallery above for photos of damages across Woonsocket. Add your own photos and videos of Hurricane Irene via the "add photos" link above.

Woonsocket Patch will continue to cover this weather event via the . Check in often for reports from across the state.