PF&R Responds to Downed Wires

Crews extinguish small fires in NE Portland

Vehicle that was actively burning with downed line on the ground nearby after complete extinguishment. (Photo courtesy of Portland Fire & Rescue)

At 5:06 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, Portland Fire Engine 14 was dispatched to an arcing electrical wire near the intersection of NE 22nd and NE Bryant in the Concordia Neighborhood. When the crew arrived, they found a downed wire that had ignited street-side vegetation, and they worked quickly to extinguish the small fires and put up safety tape to prevent residents from unknowingly approaching the potentially dangerous area.

While addressing this location, the dispatch center alerted the crew of another downed line located approximately 8 blocks away near the intersection of NE 17^th and NE Buffalo. The command officer requested Truck 8 to respond to the initial incident and relocated to the new emergency. Engine 14 found a large tree had fallen due to the saturated soils and had dropped a high-powered elevated power line along with a few houses service drop lines. The high-powered line was bouncing actively on the ground and creating explosive electrical charges where the wire contacted the ground as the power was flowing. This wire was adjacent to a vehicle that was ignited because of the fire activity at the end of the downed line. This active bouncing of the electrical wire prevented a safe approach by firefighters to address the vehicle fire that was not in any danger of spreading as the parking location did not have any exposure concerns.

The command officer directed the crew to focus on establishing a safety perimeter with caution tape at this location and to extend a hose line as close as possible to address any possible exposure from the active vehicle fire. The command officer then contacted the Pacific Power (PPL) who serves this area and requested the power be dropped immediately in this grid as it was unknown if any other lines in the area were severed. This led to a large grid in this area be completely without power for the safety of responders and curious residents out and about investigating the scene for themselves. Downed power lines pose significant danger to anyone and unknowingly encountering an active downed powerline can have grave consequences.

PPL service technicians arrived at both locations and are addressing all known damaged power lines. Service will be restored to the area when deemed safe. Portland Fire & Rescue wants to remind you to treat any downed elevated electrical line as high-risk danger and stay at least 50’ away and call professionals to address the situation. Any downed power line can be active with electricity and be hazardous.

PF&R would like to thank the dispatchers at BOEC for their assistance in this incident along with the professionals at PPL for their assistance in dropping the power in the grid for the safety of the responders along with the residents in the area. Treat all downed lines as dangerous – stay away and call 911.