Hoffman Estates Fire Department Standard Operating Guidelines PDF

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: FIRE SCENE OPERATIONS – 010 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Co...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: FIRE SCENE OPERATIONS – 010 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Commonwealth Edison (Com Ed) Emergencies Revision: 4 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2026 Fire Chief 2 PURPOSE CONTACTING COMMONWEALTH EDISON To identify actions firefighters should take when they encounter electrical emergencies involving Commonwealth Edison (Com Ed) equipment. Commonwealth Edison (Com Ed) has an emergency response team of trained personnel to respond to fire department requests for emergency assistance immediately twenty-four (24) hours a day. Com Ed is working toward having their responder report directly to the Incident Commander (IC) upon their arrival. The following guideline should be used when contacting Com Ed: POLICY PROCEDURE Legitimacy When requesting Com Ed, the IC must determine if the request is for an emergency or non emergency need. A. If there is a need for an emergency request (to de-energize service which are impeding rescue/fighting a fire) the Incident Commander should contact Com Ed directly, (using their cell phone), at 1-800-477-4022 to report an incident or 888-232-6382 for an update on an incident These are confidential numbers and should not be given out to the public. B. If it is a non-emergency request (such as a power line down with no hazard or a power line sparking in trees), the IC must direct NWCD to use the normal contact number. 1 C. Whenever possible, specific information on the exact location (i.e.; pole number or GPS coordinates) and need for response (i.e.; power cut to buildings or primary lines in the way that need to be de-energized) has to be communicated to the Com Ed dispatcher to allow for their proper response. SHUTTING OFF POWER TO RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES Due to the safety hazards involved in pulling or removing outside electrical meters, Commonwealth Edison recommends that electrical power to a residential occupancy be shut off by using the main circuit breaker on the inside electrical panel or by waiting until Com Ed personnel arrive on the scene. Pulling electrical meters can cause the meter to arc and electrocute the firefighters or cause the glass meter to explode.  With this in mind, outside meters should only be pulled in a true emergency situation and by trained Commonwealth Edison personnel only.  Firefighters are not to de-energize the systems via pulling meters or cutting drip loops.  It shall be a priority for department personnel to establish a safe zone of operation around potential or real electrical hazard areas.  It is imperative for the safety of all members working at an emergency incident that notification is made of a potential or real electrical hazard area over the radio or by a face-to-face communication.  Until official confirmation and notification to the IC from Com Ed that the building is de-energized, it is to be assumed that the building is still energized. Once notified by Com Ed that power has been shut off, that information shall be communicated to all members on the scene via radio or face-to-face. SHUTTING OFF POWER TO COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCIES Exterior electrical vaults or transformers should never be opened or entered in order to shut off power. Power to a building may be shut off by using the building's main interior breaker panels or by shutting off power to portions or zones of the building using smaller breaker panels. It will be up to ComEd to shut off the power to these types of facilities. Safety practices and concerns of all those working on the incident scene needs to take a very high priority. DEFINITIONS EXCEPTIONS REFERENCES End of Document 2