General fire discussions

[dlcat1]

2nd alarm structure fire - 80 Sayer St, Midland.

OMFG... I lived in that house up until 3 years ago.

Oh My Frilly Goanna ? ... tsk

Over Midland way Firefighters are Great (I think)

[BFB LT1]

channle ten news said the house fire in midland was started by the owner falling asleep while having a smoke. hhmmmmmmmmmm

[Bigfella78]

At least it wasn't burnt toast..

[chopper]

Hi all,
I was wondering about pole-top fires. If a light tanker sprays water on it, wouldn't that become an electrical hazard or do they stand by and do nothing until Western Power turn off the power (even then do they take their word for it?).
Thanks

[Smithy]

There are certain techniques i think. Where they break the spray out of the branch so theres no real flowing stream.
Western power would obviously need to isolate too. but every power line is treated as live

[dlcat1]

From memory (Don't trust my memory, I only fight plantation and bushfires now) the guidelines we were given for attacking anything up to 115kV train fires were a 30 degree or greater cone or fog at or above 700kpa and at a distance of at least 6 metres.

Basically by the time the water gets there it is a cloud of water vapour, rather like an intense rainstorm. Even if this doesn't put the fire out it will keep it from spreading until the utilities arrive and can ensure the circuit is isolated.

[chopper]

I wonder if they sprayed above the pole and let it "fall" down onto the pole, it probably would break apart and not allow a continuous connection to the line.

[Tyranus]

There's at least one sparky on the board and I think he'd agree with me in saying that you just leave it to burn till western power have said go for it! Electricity will arc through water droplets if there are a lot there, this can then arc right down to you as the fire fighter. If a pole burns and needs replacement, so be it. If you get electrocuted, then that's a mourning family (possibly with little or no income now), a mourning brigade and agency and an unnecessary distress on the crews attending.

[Fastlane]

General rule of thumb with pole fires.. if you haven't been advised by WP that the power is off (and had them test it with their equipment), then leave it to burn and monitor the area. With their emergency response vehicles having L&S now, they sometimes even beat us to the jobs now (unless they are mega busy).

[BFB LT1]

G'day guys i am a sparky

Tyranus is rite even if you spray at a poll top fire with the lines still live it is possible to arc down the water droplets then straight to you. You all ways treat the lines as live until confirmation from W/P. Fastlanes words would be correct aswell in saying that if the poll is burnt oh well even if it is a poll top mounted transformer oh well it's got to be replaced now its burnt anyway, so just monitor the area for embers droping and starting a grass/scrub fire.

On the topic of scrub fires and power lines as a sparky and a vollie fire fighter i am always on look at big concern of mine, which is over growen trees growing through or very close to power lines. This is a great possiblity of an ignition piont to a fire. It dissapionts me to see how bad this is in my council area especialy some are so close to houses. Is anyone else council the same???

[Sinbin]

There's at least one sparky on the board and I think he'd agree with me in saying that you just leave it to burn till western power have said go for it! Electricity will arc through water droplets if there are a lot there, this can then arc right down to you as the fire fighter. If a pole burns and needs replacement, so be it. If you get electrocuted, then that's a mourning family (possibly with little or no income now), a mourning brigade and agency and an unnecessary distress on the crews attending.

This is the case in all pole top fires, if there is no confirmation from WP that the power is off you do not spray any water near the power lines at all. I personally would rather let a pole burn then risk not returning to my family after an incident. Any f/f will tell you this is the FESA SOP for a pole top fire.

Just my 2c worth LOL

[Tyranus]

*re reads post to find the funny bit...*Well looks like we've settled that then, don't spray anywhere near power lines till western power says so.

[Sinbin]

*re reads post to find the funny bit...*Well looks like we've settled that then, don't spray anywhere near power lines till western power says so.

The funny bit was me adding my 2c worth. I dont find anything funny about mixing water and power, have had too many tingles to joke about it.

[WPXZBP]

Yep - a Brigade down on the South Coast had an issue with water and electricity too. They were told the power was off when it wasn't. Was a shocking situation (b-doom tish!) for the guys. We've been told down here unless a WP person is willing to touch the line assume it is live.

[Sinbin]

We had the same situation here the other week when we had that scrub fire started by faulty transformers. had pole top fires and just let them burn till we had the all clear from WP that power was off. the situation was that the 240V and 415V was off but the 60KV and above was still on, so couldnt do anything till ALL power was isolated.