Public Safety Announcement: Downed Lines

Power Line Safety 

Submitted by: Bob Norton, Public Information Liaison of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company

Members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. recently responded to a call for a small brush fire that was related to a power line breaking.  Due to the quick response of several members in the area, and a bit of luck, the residents were not injured.  The primary wire traveling down the street had come apart, and was resting in a tree and contacted the service wire going to the house.  Sparks started a small grass fire in the front of the house.  Only with the trained responders tracking down the power lines, were the broken lines detected.  

This call ended on a very positive note, without anyone being hurt.  There was almost an effort by the homeowner to put out the grass fire with a fire extinguisher.  This would have put the homeowner feet from the broken wire in the tree, possibly transmitting high voltages of electricity into the person.  

“Downed power lines are one of the most hazardous situations our members face on a regular basis,” said Fire Chief Gary Klare.  “We train annually on what to look for and the steps needed to be followed to ensure that no one is injured or worse yet killed.”  During a recent training session, Warren Rogers from CL&P presented a drill on power line safety.  He reviewed the voltages that the primary lines are carrying on local roads in town.  He also explained that while a line may appear to be only carrying telephone or cable television data, those wires may be energized above what is safe – and as such should be treated as a live power line and never touched. 

Two types of power lines that present hazards are primary lines, those carrying very high voltage electricity down the street, and the secondary or feeder lines that connect houses to the street power.  Both carry enough power to kill a person.  Not long ago several members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. attended a wake for a Somers Firefighter who was electrocuted when his shoulder rubbed against the secondary or house line as he entered a second floor window during a fire.

“Power lines can energize other metal objects and carry that electricity a long distance,” Warren Rogers explained during the drill.  A guard rail may be contacted by a downed wire around a corner and be energized for a half mile.  Summer storms and heat can cause wires to be stretched.  When a wire breaks and falls to the ground, it must be considered live.  If the wire is sparking then stops, you must still consider it live and keep away.  In order to keep the power flowing to as many homes and businesses as possible, “re-closers” are used to try directing power from another source to the affected area.  Every minute or two, the line may be re-energized in an attempt to restore power to the area. 

The best thing to do whenever there is a fire resulting from a power line or any line from a pole is observed on the ground is to dial 911.  Let the professionals protect the area until the power company can respond.  Additional tips on electrical wire safety can be found on the CL&P Website.

More information on the activities of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. and ways you can get involved can be found on our website .