What would you do?

Had a fully involved stucture fire at 3 am new years day. Once one scene noticed that both entrances were blocked by a live powerline. How would you handle the situation?

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Permalink Reply by Allen Wahlstrom on January 10, 2009 at 11:14pm
Call local elec utility company, have them shut down that portion of the grid.

Life safety involved inside structure?

Dont risk firefighters for a loser.

Need more info to get into any detail here...
Permalink Reply by Irons38 on January 10, 2009 at 11:15pm
Defensive operations till power was secured to the building. Notify all on scene and incoming units of the situation. Protect the exposures.
Permalink Reply by G. Taylor 1208 on January 10, 2009 at 11:53pm
30-40 min eta of power company
nobody in the structure

Thanks for the responses
Permalink Reply by Rescue601 on January 11, 2009 at 2:22am
Both entrances were on the same side of the structure? If the house is fully involved why does it matter as you aren't going interior anyways.
Permalink Reply by Jeff on January 11, 2009 at 2:57am
As tough as it would be I would make the call to wait for the power to be shut down. Your not gonna help anybody if your dead. All you can do is try and protect your exposures and keep everyone away.
Permalink Reply by FETC on January 11, 2009 at 6:57am
Hard? This is acually pretty easy.

Fully involved structure answers your question? Life Safety issue is a mute point - subjects if any, are already dead.

If the entrances are truly blocked, and no other way to gain access to the site, via lawn or backyard, side street, etc. then we call the power company and get the power shut off. This is not your emergency - it is someone else's bad day and do not become part of it with a firefighter electricution.
Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on January 11, 2009 at 7:04am
Agreed. "Fully involved" means different things to different people, it seems. To me it means fire on all floors, blowing out of all windows and the intense radiant heat is threatening nearby structures. The building's structural components are rapidly being consumed by the fire.
Permalink Reply by anne potter on January 11, 2009 at 8:48am
surrend and drown at this point and wait for nimo to shut it down....
Permalink Reply by 144Truck on January 11, 2009 at 10:12am
If there is no life safety... Don't make any. Call the power company, protect the exposures, and probably make a parking lot.

A neighboring department lost a member during a snowstorm when his SCBA cylinder contacted a supposedly dead primary.
Permalink Reply by Jason Brooks on January 11, 2009 at 10:44am
Deck guns, why get out onto the ground an potentially find another line that you missed.
Permalink Reply by firechief911 on January 11, 2009 at 12:29pm
no brainer protect exposiers save the lot sometimes that all you can do {kiss} [keep it simple stupid ] lol
im not calling you stupid
Permalink Reply by Susan on January 11, 2009 at 12:42pm
30-40 minute eta on electric company and no life in danger?? I say let it burn. Don't risk a firefighter life if there is no chance of saving the structure. Power lines make it even more dangerous. If ever in doubt, play it safe.

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