The Power to Kill

Electrical hazards are a constant threat on the fireground

Electricity. We deal with it in some form or fashion every day on the fireground. Cars hit utility poles and drop wires, wires burn through at structure fires before or after our arrival, or we’re working interior and the power isn’t properly secured.

Although most of our electrical encounters don’t result in injury, some turn tragic. In January, Capt. Richard Rhea of the Crawfordville (Fla.) Volunteer Fire Department was killed at the scene of an accident when he slipped in wet grass and fell on a downed power line. The incident reminded me of one of the American Heat videos in the late ’80s/early ’90s where a firefighter at the scene of an accident walks under a downed power line three or four times and then walks right into it, killing him.

Also in January, firefighters from the Canton (Ohio) Fire Department were shocked at an arson fire, and firefighters from my department in Granbury, Texas, just missed getting shocked at the scene of a structure fire.

Chief Darrell Grober of the Granbury Volunteer Fire Department related this last story to me: The fire was in a barn on a residential property, but not too near the house. Firefighters threw the main breaker that supplied both the house and the barn and went to work, some ways away from the breaker. The homeowner decided that he didn’t want the power turned off to his house and without the knowledge of anyone else on scene, closed the breaker—energizing both the house and the barn. Firefighters found out the power was back on when water spray hit something electrical and sparked.

Apartment or other multi-occupant occupancies are especially prone to electrical hazards. Residents think, “Hey, it ain’t our place on fire; turn the power back on,” and someone does. They couldn’t give a rip how it may affect you.

Fortunately, that scenario is also easily preventable with a simple padlock, combination or key. When the company officer does their walkaround, they simply lock the breaker in the open (off) position. There are several types of breaker lockouts available that will suit a variety of applications. You can even find locks for breakers that look like they can’t be locked—just do a Web search for “lock-out tag-out supplies.”

Note: On Feb. 2, as I was writing this column, six Houston firefighters were shocked, but fortunately uninjured, at a working residential structure fire. If you don’t think these incidents can happen to you, you’re dead wrong. Next time you’re on scene, ensure electrical hazards are identified and mitigated.

Scott Cook is the former chief of the Granbury (Texas) Volunteer Fire Department and a fire service instructor. He’s also a member of FireRescue’s editorial board.