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| Power line safety during structure fires |
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| When fighting a structure fire, you are almost always exposed to energized power lines. Contact with these lines can cause serious injuries or even death. Follow these precautions to avoid electrical contact when approaching or de-energizing a structure during a fire. |
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| Approaching the structure |
| When approaching a fire involving structural components: |
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Maintain a safe distance. Keep yourself and your vehicles, ladders, tools and aerial equipment at least 10 feet away from all overhead power lines up to 50 kV. Higher voltages require greater distances. Confirm line voltages and clearances with PPL Electric Utilities, and always maintain the maximum distance possible. When water must be used to protect exposures, stay at least 30 feet away from energized objects. Use a 30-degree fog pattern at 100 psi—NEVER a straight stream. |
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Perform a 360-degree size-up, and identify power line drop zones. While maintaining a safe distance, walk 360 degrees around the structure to identify the location of power lines, service wires and weatherheads. Be sure to keep yourself and your vehicles, ladders, tools and aerial equipment clear of drop zones. These are areas where power lines could fall to the ground if they break free from their point of attachment to poles or structures. |
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Anticipate downed service lines. Overhead service lines attached to burning structures may burn free and fall on or near fire apparatus and hose lines, energizing them and posing a shock hazard for anyone nearby. Fallen or sagging service wires may also energize metal gutters, awnings, siding or other conductive objects. Protect yourself by anticipating these shock hazards and remaining at least 20 feet away from overhead service lines. |
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Use a spotter. Position a dedicated spotter on the ground to monitor the deployment and placement of ladders and aerial equipment, ensuring that they remain a safe distance away from power lines and service wires. Do NOT stand on the ground when operating equipment. When aerial equipment contacts a power line, people on the ground are at the greatest risk of electrical shock. |
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Watch out for weatherheads. If you slip and fall against the service mast, pulling wires loose, you risk being severely shocked or electrocuted. Be sure to keep hose streams away from the undersides of weatherheads, where fine cracks in a gasket could let in water and pose a shock risk. |
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| De-energizing the structure |
| If PPL Electric Utilities confirms that the structure must be de-energized, do NOT pull the meter or disconnect the service wire. Doing either is extremely dangerous! You may turn off power at the main switch inside or outside the structure, but ONLY if you are trained to do so. |
| Would you like to know more? |
| Additional utility safety tips, case studies, instructional videos and safety education tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on PPL Electric Utilities’ e‑SMARTresponders website. |
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| In an electrical emergency, call PPL Electric Utilities at 1‑800‑342‑5775 (1‑800‑DIAL‑PPL). |
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