First off, I have a new source for amazing fire photos, First Due Fire Photos
, which is where I saw the following image taken at the scene of quite a fire in Ansonia, CT.
The image is part from a series taken by the gentleman noted in the photo, which includes a dramatic bailout from a third floor amidst heavy smoke.
No doubt this was a tense situation and the life of a brother was at risk, but while looking through the photos, this one grabbed me right away:
See the whole series HERE
Even though from the comfort of my laptop and having plenty of time to guess that is a cable TV line I'm not going to touch it. I don't care if the utility guy himself is touching it and not dead, any wire overhead is there for a reason.
Now before everyone starts posting that I'm wrong or overly cautious, look again at the other wire nearby that they already passed or are about to pass. Think they'll grab that one too? No one was injured as a result of this, at least not reported, but is this a habit to get into?
Helmet off to the folks who thought fast to get a ladder to the white helmet bailing out and control the fire to the best of their ability, but this is an accident waiting to happen.
, which is where I saw the following image taken at the scene of quite a fire in Ansonia, CT.
The image is part from a series taken by the gentleman noted in the photo, which includes a dramatic bailout from a third floor amidst heavy smoke.
No doubt this was a tense situation and the life of a brother was at risk, but while looking through the photos, this one grabbed me right away:
See the whole series HERE
Even though from the comfort of my laptop and having plenty of time to guess that is a cable TV line I'm not going to touch it. I don't care if the utility guy himself is touching it and not dead, any wire overhead is there for a reason.
Now before everyone starts posting that I'm wrong or overly cautious, look again at the other wire nearby that they already passed or are about to pass. Think they'll grab that one too? No one was injured as a result of this, at least not reported, but is this a habit to get into?
Helmet off to the folks who thought fast to get a ladder to the white helmet bailing out and control the fire to the best of their ability, but this is an accident waiting to happen.
Comments
Lastly, I'm so happy that everybody got to go home from that fire!!
Capt. Tom
My main point was that moving wires should always be a last resort and cutting A/V wire to move a basket may be a good call, maybe not. I had a wire down call where the A/V cable was resting on the high voltage line at the house. Was it live? We never found out and even the utility guy considered it live.
I'm also in the mindset to have the second or third truck companies cover that aspect of the house, but I understand limited resources in some areas only have 1, if any, ladders responding.
By the way, in case I forgot, congrats on the promotion Capt Tom.
HM
You don't know if that telecom line is crossed with some 120v inside due to conditions.
Just like at a traffic accident with a broken pole.... yeah, that's just telecom hanging low in your way, but did you notice the 14kV primary that whipped loose from the recoil - three spans away - and is now laying on that the telecom... looking for a path to ground that you are about to provide when you move it?
There are no guarantees.
Good call, HM.
- F4