In the movies, electric wires snap like crazy snakes and give off iridescent sparks. But in real life, they often just lay there dull, silent–and deadly. “We’ve had instances lately along the Coos River road where lines have come down and we find that they have been moved out of the way by someone,” said Diana Knous, regional business manager. “This is not something the general public should take on themselves, the risk is too great. You simply can’t tell if a line is energized by looking at it. Even linemen with years of experience can’t tell by looking.” The safest thing to do is avoid any downed lines. If a line has fallen on the ground or on some other object or piece of equipment, always assume it’s hot, live or energized. * If a vehicle comes in contact with a power line, remain seated until help arrives. If there is danger of fire, jump as far away from the vehicle as possible and keep your feet together when landing. Do not allow any part of your body to touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Many injuries have occurred when equipment operators attempted to get back on or touch equipment after dismounting. * Never attempt to raise or move a power line. Stay clear, keep others away and call 911 and Pacific Power toll free at 1-888-221-7070.
