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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. |
For more first responder safety information and our FREE certification course, visit the
Tampa Electric
e-SMARTresponders website.
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Approaching the Structure |
When approaching a fire involving structural components: |
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Maintain a safe distance. Keep all personnel and equipment as far away as possible from overhead power lines, including service drops, which run from utility poles to buildings. Personnel, ladders and fully extended aerial equipment must never get closer than 20 feet from power lines. 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. While maintaining a safe distance, walk 360 degrees around the structure to identify the location of power lines, service wires and weatherheads. |
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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, 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 and anything they may be in contact with. |
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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 underside 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 Tampa Electric confirms that the structure must be de-energized, do NOT pull the meter or disconnect the service wire. Doing either is extremely dangerous! Turn off power at the customer's main breaker ONLY if you are trained to do so. |
| Would You Like to Know More? |
| Additional utility safety tips, case studies, instructional videos and our electric utility safety certification course for first responders can all be found, at no charge to you, on the Tampa Electric e-SMARTresponders website. |
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