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Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - Brevard County Fire Rescue Station's 22 & 21 were working a brushfire pushed by 20 mph winds. A 3 person brush unit were working along a high voltage powerline right of way to ensure that the fire didn't spot over the right-of-way. Several of the pine trees near the power lines started to flare. Most of the vegitation in central and south Florida has an oil base due to the tropical nature of the environment. The put off by this vegitation is thick and full of carbon. The smoke caused a conduction between the power lines. This hazard has been taught in our wildland classes and we have all heard of this hazard. What makes this different is we have it on video! The Florida Power and Light representative advised that had this arc gone to ground, like it normally does, it could have kill the 3 personnel on the ground. The Lieutenant at the front of the brush (not visible in the video) was pushed to the ground by the concussion of the smoke detonation.
LESSONS LEARNED:
Stay clear of high voltation powerlines during brushfires.
FFCC.COM NOTES FFCC.COM NOTES
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