Power line fire prompts safety reminders

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EATON — Firefighters and police responded to an incident at 312 W. High St. around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, June 12, involving a power line which burst into flame.

“It looks like a transformer went bad, or a squirrel got up there and started nipping at it,” said Eaton Police Officer Luke Baker.

Steve Williams, the homeowner, felt a squirrel was the likely cause as well. “The lights flickered in the house, we heard some noises out back, and the dog started barking. We came out into the yard, and the line was on fire, so I went down and shut my breaker off.”

Authorities arrived quickly to the scene and found the power line running behind Williams’ residence on fire high above the backyard. Soon after, the flame burned through the wire and it split in half, falling onto the grass.

Dayton Power and Light dispatched workers to put a new line up the same night.

“Dayton Power and Light’s top priority is the safety of our customers and our crews, especially when power lines are down,” DP&L said in a statement.

The utility provider advises the following in the event of downed power lines:

  • For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
  • Customers should assume all fallen wires are live. Never touch a fallen line.
  • Stay at least ten feet away from downed lines and keep children and pets away.
  • If you are cleaning up after storm damage, do not remove tree limbs near downed lines until DP&L crews have repaired the damage.
  • Do not drive over fallen lines.
  • Notify DP&L of lines that are down by calling 877-4OUTAGE (877-468-8243).

Additional safety tips are available online at dpandl.com/education/safety-tips.

Eaton fire and police departments responded to a power line fire on High Street Sunday night.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/06/web1_DSC_0193a.jpgEaton fire and police departments responded to a power line fire on High Street Sunday night.

By Duante Beddingfield

[email protected]

Reach Duante Beddingfield at 937-683-4061 or on Twitter @duanteb_RH.

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