Cleveland Division of Fire SOP 3: Electrical Emergencies PDF

CLEVELAND DIVISION OF FIRE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE NUMBER: 3 CLASS: S.O.P. DATE: March 18, 2023 SUBJECT: ELECTRICAL EMERGENCIES 1. POLICY It is the policy of the Cleveland Division of Fire to respond to reports of power lines down and other hazards involving energized electrical equipment (t...

CLEVELAND DIVISION OF FIRE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE NUMBER: 3 CLASS: S.O.P. DATE: March 18, 2023 SUBJECT: ELECTRICAL EMERGENCIES 1. POLICY It is the policy of the Cleveland Division of Fire to respond to reports of power lines down and other hazards involving energized electrical equipment (transformers, substations, electric vaults) for fire control and to ensure the safety of the public. It is the responsibility of the company officer to maintain a high degree of safety for their crew and the public until the arrival of a superior officer or the electrical utility company (CEI/CPP). 2. PURPOSE This Standard Operating Procedure will establish the response and approach procedures to the report of power lines down and other incidents involving energized electrical equipment. Power lines can come into contact with the ground as a result of a weather related event, fire, or vehicles striking a power pole. In all cases, the potential for electrical shock/electrocution and fire must be considered. 3. ELECTRICAL SAFETY AWARENESS Electricity will travel through any conductive path available to seek ground. A direct path to ground can occur when contact is made between something that is electrically energized and a portion of your body such as your hand, arm, head or other body part. The path could include tools or other equipment you may be using or when coming into contact with a fence, vehicle, or other object that has become energized. Keep in mind that wooden fences can become energized when exposed to high voltage, especially when wet. 3.1 Gradient Voltage (Step and Touch Potential) - When power lines are down, they will energize the ground around them. For Example: point of ground contact could be 7000 volts and lessen to 6000 volts as it radiates outward. If your feet are in areas where there is a voltage difference, you could complete the circuit and be the source to ground. This is called “step potential.” This danger could be indicated by a tingling sensation in the feet and serve as a warning to back away from the area. Step potential is more severe when the ground is wet. S.O.P.# 3 Page 1 of 6 March 18, 2023 4. SIZE-UP 4.1 Personnel will assess the scene to determine if the downed line is electrical or data/communications. The thermal imaging camera can be used as part of this assessment. If this cannot be completed with a high degree of safety then the line shall be considered energized. 4.2 Never attempt to move any downed line. 4.3 If the downed line can be confirmed as a data/communication cable, follow the “Response to Data or Communications Downed Line” procedure 5. RESPONSE TO POWER LINES DOWN 5.1 Request utility company to respond. 5.2 Consider all down wires as energized. 5.3 Place apparatus away from down lines and power poles and out from under involved overhead lines that could fail and fall onto equipment or personnel. Follow the “two poles away” rule (approximately 200 feet.). This is the span of two poles away from the failed power line. 5.4 Relay the street address closest to the downed lines that you can safely approach. For example, the downed line is 3 houses south of 123 Elm. 5.5 Secure the area/deny entry. 5.6 In the event of multiple lines/poles down over a large area, call additional resources. 5.7 Periods of high activity (storm mode); the Fire Dispatch Center will make every effort to provide relief for companies assigned to downed wire incidents every two hours when possible. 5.8 Do not attach caution tape to chain link fences or downspouts near the downed wire. 6. DOWN POWER LINES AND VEHICLES 6.1 Request utility company to respond. 6.2 Do not touch vehicle. 6.3 Have occupants remain inside the vehicle. 6.4 Place apparatus a safe distance away from down lines. 6.5 If occupants must leave the vehicle (fire or other threat to life) instruct them to open the door, but to not step-out. They should jump free of the vehicle without touching vehicle and ground at the same time; they should walk away from the vehicle with very small steps to minimize the gradient voltage hazard. S.O.P.# 3 Page 2 of 6 March 18, 2023 7. SUB-STATION, TRANSFORMER, ELECTRICAL VAULT AND MANHOLE FIRE 7.1 Request utility company to respond. 7.2 Clear the area. 7.3 Be aware of explosion potential. 7.4 Place apparatus in a safe location away from overhead power lines. Do not stage over manhole covers. 7.5 Protect exposures. 7.6 Do not make entry into a substation or vault until the utility representative has verified that the electrical equipment has been de-energized. The utility representative may have to make entry to uninvolved sections to safely de-energize the equipment. Never enter a manhole, this is a confined space and requires technical knowledge, training and equipment. 8. RESPONSE TO POWER POLE FIRES 8.1 Request utility company to respond. 8.2 Consider all wires and poles as energized. 8.3 Place apparatus away from down lines and power poles and out from under involved overhead lines that could fail and fall onto equipment or personnel. Follow the “two poles away” rule (approximately 200 feet.). 8.4 Secure the area/deny entry. 8.5 Do not make any direct fire attack until the utility representative has verified that the electrical equipment has been de-energized. A pole fire cannot be completely extinguished until the equipment is deenergized. 9. RESPONSE TO DATA or COMMUNICATIONS DOWNED LINES 9.1 Notify Fire Dispatch that the line is communication/data. Attempt to identify utility responsible for the line and provide information to Dispatch. 9.2 If the downed communication/data lines are creating a public hazard such as blocking roadways request Cleveland Police for traffic control. 9.3 If the data or communication lines are not creating a public hazard secure the area with caution or fire line tape. 9.4 Notify surrounding occupancies that the downed lines are not electrical and they should contact their service providers for repair. 10. RESPONSE TO ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY WITHIN A STRUCTURE 10.1 When it is determined an electrical emergency is present in a dwelling or commercial building the power shall be disconnected at the main breaker. 10.2 Keep in mind that some occupancies may have multiple means of disconnecting the power, S.O.P.# 3 Page 3 of 6 March 18, 2023 if possible a building representative should coordinate de-energizing the building with maintenance/engineering. 10.3 If the power cannot be disconnected at the main breaker request the power company through Fire Dispatch. 10.4 Removing electric meters is extremely hazardous and shall only be performed if there is a life safety issue. 10.5 Deploy the Thermal Imaging Camera throughout the structure to ensure the electrical issue did not cause a smoldering fire. Use the Search and Rescue mode. 10.6 Use a CO2 or dry chemical extinguisher when rescue is necessary near electrical equipment and the power status is unconfirmed. 11. SOLAR PHOTOVOTLAIC (PV) UNITS 11.1 Operating disconnecting devices and/or contacting the local electrical utility to disconnect power from the grid does not shut off power from the solar PV system. 11.2 Solar panels will continue to produce electricity in sunlight and the batteries storing the electricity may pose a hazard to firefighters. 11.3 Contact building personnel knowledgeable about the system before confirming that the building has been deenergized. 11.4 Significant roof top tripping hazards arise from the conduits or wires connecting the PV panels. 12. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS 12.1 Downed lines must always be considered energized with potentially lethal current. 12.2 Lines can reset and become hot or energized again by manual operation of a switch, by automatic re-closing methods (either method from short or long distances away), by induction where a deenergized line can become hot if it’s near an energized line, or through back-feed conditions. 12.3 Power lines tend to have “Reel Memory” and may curl back or roll on itself when down. 12.4 Use caution when spraying water on or around energized electrical equipment. Hose streams conduct current. Never spray directly into the power lines. Use a fog spray at the base of the pole. Your primary responsibility is to protect the surrounding area. Short bursts of water are preferred methods to avoid being grounded. Never spray water onto electrical equipment until a utility rep has confirmed that the equipment is deenergized. 12.5 PCB hazards: Smoke is potentially fatal, contain pools of oil around transformers. 12.6 You cannot tell the voltage of a power line by the size of the conductor. Most overhead conductors are not insulated. Small wires (#4-#6 AWG) are utilized to carry high voltage. 12.7 Voltage can travel through both dry and especially wet ground for considerable distances. 12.8 Pad-mounted and overhead transformers can explode. S.O.P.# 3 Page 4 of 6 March 18, 2023 12.9 Until grounded, equipment can contain electric potential, which can cause severe injury or death. 12.10 Electricity can flow through the ground or other conductive objects, (fences) to points far from the scene. 12.11 Deploy the Thermal Imaging Camera in Search and Rescue mode, this may assist in identifying location/s of downed power lines. By Order Of: Anthony Luke, Chief Cleveland Division of Fire AL/an S.O.P.# 3 Page 5 of 6 March 18, 2023