Skip to main content

6MFS

6MFS Committee

All 6MFS Topics

6MFS Calendar

Aviation

Airtankers

Felling Safety

Fire Communication

Firefighter Health - First Aid

Leadership

Misc Fireline Hazards

Operational Engagement

This Day in History

Vehicles - Roads

Weather - Fire Behavior

Week of Remembrance

Power Line Safety

 

Operating near or under power lines poses unique hazards, and the following precautions should be followed to reduce potential injury or equipment damage:

  • If possible, the power company should deactivate lines in the fire area.
  • Don’t operate heavy equipment under power lines.
  • Don’t drive with long antennas under power lines.
  • Don’t park under power lines. The magnetic field around energized power lines can induce an electrical charge in ungrounded vehicles or equipment. This charge can shock anyone who touches the vehicle.
  • Keep all aviation activity away from power lines. Inform air attack and/or other aviation resources of the location of the power lines.
  • Don’t stand near power lines during retardant drops.
  • Don’t apply a straight stream to power lines.
  • All personnel should be cautioned that smoke may become charged and conduct the electrical current. Deactivated transmission and distribution lines may continue to pose a hazard due to induction.
  • If power lines fall on your vehicle, DON’T leave the vehicle until the power company arrives. If the vehicle is on fire or fire is near the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) recommends car accident victims in imminent danger from a fire or other hazards exit the car by jumping clear without touching the ground and the vehicle at the same time. Try to land with feet together and shuffle away in small steps.

Discussion Topics:

  • Have you ever reached out to the local power company to provide a tailgate safety briefing at your local unit?
  • Have you built a relationship with your local power company?

 

Category
Misc Fireline Hazards
References
Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, Powerline Safety, Specific Haza…
Interagency Standards for Fire & Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book)
Back Creek Fire Electrical Burn (2015) - Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center
Red River County Downed Electrical Line (2022) - Wildland Fire Lessons Learned …


Have an idea or feedback?

Share it with the NWCG 6MFS Subcommittee.


Follow NWCG on Twitter and Facebook

Print PDF

NWCG Latest Announcements

2024 Week of Remembrance

Date: June 27, 2024
Contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee 

As we approach the 2024 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30 to July 6, we dedicate this time to thoughtfully reviewing and recognizing the events of the 2018 Mendocino Complex. As such, this year’s theme of “Learning From the Mendocino Complex” embodies a longstanding hallmark of WOR, honoring through learning.

Throughout the week, our energy will be directed toward fostering generative conversations in briefing rooms and at tailgates.

References:

6 Minutes for Safety - 2024 Week of Remembrance

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Updated NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Date: June 24, 2024
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee 

The June 2024 update of the NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236, is now available to meet the current needs for incident management typing.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment should be used to evaluate firefighter safety issues, assess risk, and identify the appropriate incident management organization based on incident complexity. Assessing risk, determining incident complexity, and identifying an appropriate incident management organization is a subjective process based on examining a combination of indicators or factors, which can change over time.

References:

NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Operations Branch Director (OPBD) Next Gen PTB Available

Date: June 10, 2024
Contact: NWCG Feedback 

The NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Branch Director (OPBD), PMS 311-109 is now available for use within the OPBD position qualification pathway. As part of the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), the OPBD Next Gen PTB was developed and the position qualification pathway updated.

More information about the Next Gen PTB format can be found on the NWCG Position Task Book webpage.

References:

Operations Branch Director Position Page

Operations Branch Director Next Gen PTB

NWCG Position Task Books

Updated NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902

Date: June 5, 2024
Contact: NWCG Incident Business Committee 

The 2024 revision of the NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902 is now available. The uniform application of interagency incident business management standards is critical to interagency fire operations. PMS 902 assists NWCG agencies in constructively working together to provide effective execution of each agency's incident business management program.

References:

PMS 902