300-01 POWER LINE INCIDENTS.pdf

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 300-01 Power Line Incidents Issue Date: 09/01/2012...

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 300-01 Power Line Incidents Issue Date: 09/01/2012 Effective Date: 10/01/2012 PURPOSE: To provide guidelines for the safe and effective response to the report of power lines down and electrical equipment fires. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator SCOPE: This standard guideline shall apply to all Emergency Operations personnel. PROCEDURE: Fire Rescue shall operate under the National Incident Management System (NIMS). These guidelines provide a basic framework for most incidents. 1. Personnel Safety a. Electrical Safety Awareness i. Electrical equipment fires can present additional hazards including toxic smoke. In all cases, the potential for electrocutions and secondary fires must be considered. ii. Use caution when spraying water on or around energized electrical equipment. Hose streams conduct current. Never spray directly into the power line. Use a fog pattern hose stream at the base of the pole. The primary objective is to protect the surrounding area. b. Scene Considerations i. Downed power lines must always be considered energized. ii. Lock out of down power lines generally occurs after three (3) operations or attempts to re-energize. Even though this may be heard, do not assume the line is dead or de-energized. iii. Power lines can reset and become “hot” or “energized” again by: 1. Manual operation of a switch 2. Automatic re-closing methods 3. Induction from an energized line in close proximity 4. Through back-feed conditions (generators) iv. Power lines tend to have “Reel Memory” and may curl back or roll on itself when down. SOG 300-01 Power Line Incidents Page 1 of 3  2. Emergency Incident Activities a. Response to Power Lines Down i. Perform 360-degree size up ii. Request utility company to respond iii. Consider all power lines as “energized” iv. Consider any object in contact with downed power lines as “energized” v. Place apparatus away from “down lines and power poles” vi. Locate both ends of downed power lines vii. Identify Exclusionary Zone 1. Stay away from downed power lines at least a distance equal to one span between power poles viii. Secure the area and deny entry ix. Wait on scene for utility company to arrive, de-energize the line, and assume control of the downed line. x. In the event of multiple lines or poles down over a large area, request additional resources. b. Down Power Lines Involving Vehicles or Structures i. Perform 360-degree size up ii. Request utility company to respond iii. Do not touch vehicle or structure iv. Have occupants remain inside the vehicle or structure v. Place apparatus a safe distance away from down lines vi. Identify Exclusionary Zone 1. Stay away from downed power lines and objects of contact at least a distance equal to one span between power poles vii. If occupants must leave the vehicle or structure, because of fire or threat to life, instruct them to jump free of the vehicle or structure with legs together and “hop” out without touching the vehicle or structure and ground at the same time. c. Power Pole, Transformer, Sub-Station, Electrical Vault and Manhole Fires i. Perform 360-degree size up ii. Request utility company to respond iii. Be aware of explosion potential iv. Place apparatus in a safe location away from overhead power lines or energized equipment v. Identify Exclusionary Zone 1. Do not make entry into area until utility company has de-energized power lines or equipment vi. Consider any fences around the area as energized vii. Secure the area and deny entry viii. Protect exposures ix. Power pole fires should be permitted to burn until the utility company confirms power is off x. Transformer fires at ground level should be permitted to burn and exposures should be protected. SOG 300-01 Power Line Incidents Page 2 of 3  xi. Transformer fires above ground should be permitted to burn until utility company personnel can extinguish with a dry chemical extinguisher from an aerial device. xii. Sub-Station Fires requires consultation and cooperation with the utility company. xiii. Electrical Vault and Manhole Fires considerations: 1. These fires present a high potential for explosion and toxic smoke (consider decontamination). 2. Do not enter area or park apparatus over manhole covers. 3. When there is no life hazard involved, firefighters should let vault and manhole fires burn and protect exposures. d. Requests to Shut Down Electrical Grids i. It may be necessary to request the power company to shut down the grid to a specific area when presented with a life-threatening situation (citizen in contact with power line, car accident involving downed lines with unconscious patient, etc…). This decision must include other hazards that may occur with a grid closure (loss of power to traffic lights, etc…). ii. To request the response of power companies to drop a grid, provide the Communication Center with: 1. Best address possible 2. Accurate (yellow) device description number 3. Cell phone number of Incident Commander Supersession History 1. SOG #1720, issued 03/01/2006 2. SOG #1720, issued 10/01/2012 3. SOG 300-01, clerical 05/01/2018 SOG 300-01 Power Line Incidents Page 3 of 3