Electrical, Gas, and Water Safety Federal Fire Department San Diego

Enabling Objectives Demonstrate how to secure various utilities Describe the safeguards that are used Describe common causes of fires started by electrical services Describe the protective measures which will decrease the threat to life and property

Electricity WARNING TO HANDLE FIRES IN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, STOP THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY BEFORE SUPRESSION BEGINS

Electricity WARNING CONSIDER ALL WIRES LIVE UNTIL CONFIRMED TO BE OTHERWISE BY THE POWER COMPANY

Electricity Terms to know- -Voltage -Current -Watts -OHMS

Voltage The force that causes flow of electricity Equivalent to PSI in a water delivery system Classified as High or Low The larger the insulator the higher the voltage Insulation color does not indicate the amount of voltage

Voltage Voltage > 240 is considered high and beyond firefighters capabilities Electrical conductors at highest position usually carry highest voltage Low voltage does not mean safe Low voltage can give minor shocks and cause physical injuries

INSULATOR 480 OR HIGHER PHONE/CABLE

TRANSMISSION 120-240 VOLT DISTRIBUTION

Current The flow of electricity Measured in amps Equivalent to GPM in water system Current or amps are dangerous As little as one milliamp can cause V-Fib

Watts The amount of electrical power needed to run a appliance or piece of electrical equipment Determined by multiplying the rated voltage by the rated amperage of a piece of electrical equipment Volts x Amps

OHMS The measurement of resistance created by electrical current flowing Equivalent to friction in water flowing through a fire hose Resistance causes heat

Safety Practices Never watch arcs Buildings with electrical hazards, keep arms up and palms facing in Never stand below power lines when water is applied Never direct streams between or over high voltage power lines Smoke is a conductor of electricity

Hazards of street lights and neons Street lights should always be considered high voltage. Also,They are often connected in series Neon signs use transformers that increase voltage as high as 15000 volts. Current flow is high

Overhead Wires conductor transformer

Overhead Wires When wires are down call SDG&E Apparatus, personnel, and equipment should be kept one pole span from hazard Heat anneals conductors and may cause wires to weaken and fall down If vehicles become energized with low volts -Jump from vehicle with feet together -do not touch car and ground together

“Feel for the tingle in the boots” Energized Vehicles Never attempt to re-enter or touch a charged vehicle Rubber tires and boots are not always good insulators and may be conductive Tires are often steel belted Boots may be wet or covered with dust or other conductive materials “Feel for the tingle in the boots”

Pole Fires Isolate and secure area, protect exposures Contact Heartland and SDG&E Do not attempt to extinguish fire A fog steam may be used to intermittently cool pole fires -Never use a straight stream -Fog stream particles are less conductive

Pole Fires If pole is burning, extinguish within two feet of the capacitor If capacitor is burning, two pole span distance away from fire Capacitors will hold charge until shorted and grounded Water absorbed by pole can conduct electricity to ground

Pole Fires Oil switches, oil filled transformers High flash point, will burn and spill Transformers convert electrical current May be on pole or ground Do not attempt to extinguish this type of fire until de-energized

Wires Down Establish a safety zone, one pole span Have Heartland call SDGE with: -Pole number if possible -If wires go pole to pole or pole to structure Don’t move slack, grounded or dangling wires unless lives are endanger Use caution during rainy conditions

Wires Down Wires may energize rain gutters, trees or TV lines In a wild land fire do not park under high voltage lines, retardant drop may snap power lines and smoke will conduct Wires on fence may energize entire span Cut wires as a last resort

Victim in Contact With Wires Safest to remove victim from wire Assume victim is energized Attempt to keep wire in contact with the ground Move wire as little as possible, may cause arc or flash

Cutting Wires Should be performed by SDGE Cut wires on one side as high off the ground as possible, repeat on other side Back feed from transformer

Green Pad Mounted Equipment If vehicle involved consider high voltage Check for wires under vehicle Minimum voltage range from 4kv-12kv Can be confused with telephone junction box

Green Pad Mounted Equipment Telephone Box Electrical Box

Underground Conductors Electric cable in underground ducts and manholes is seldom a problem May arc and catch fire or burn gases Do not enter underground manholes or vaults Use non conductive agents to extinguish fire

Power Plants and Substation Do not enter or extinguish until SDGE notified Stay out of substation until SDGE notified Protect surrounding property May have oil fire

Consumer Installation

Consumer Installation Take protective measures to reduce life and property hazards Isolate the electrical hazards by opening switches or throwing circuit breakers

Consumer Installation Attempt to isolate in the following order Fixtures Outlets Appliances Floors Areas

Service Meter Buildings may have high voltage emergency backup generators Strip malls should be completely isolated due to common wiring Some buildings have a uninterrupted power supply to convert AC to DC if external power is shut off

Never pull the service meter Service Meters Never pull the service meter

Circuit Breakers Three types- -Switch, push, fuse Before disconnecting, note position -Position either on, off, or tripped -Are fuses blown? -Any tampering ?

Main Breaker Isolate main breaker -Only when local isolation not possible -Disrupts entire service Utilize building maintenance personnel whenever possible

Dead and Isolated Circuits Dead circuits have been de-energized by throwing breakers but they have not been isolated (firefighter function) Isolated circuits prevent any automatic or remote control operations that could energize circuits (SDG&E rep only)

Trolley Lines 600 volts DC De-energized only by trolley repair crews Stay a minimum of 10 feet from the trolley lines

Water Utilities Water is the most used and least recognized public utility Allows water to be supplied from more then one direction without interruption

Controlling Water Service Close valve off as close to the leak as possible Residential service valves- ball or gate (globe) Residential curb side meter box

Controlling Water Service Residential curb side meter box- closed Residential curb side meter box- open

Water Valves Uncontrolled water causes major property damage Broken pipes Hose lines

Natural Gases Natural gas- methane Highly flammable, non toxic and odorless Contains mercaptan to odorize (rotten egg) Lighter than air, displaces oxygen in confined spaces - asphyxiate Distributed through pipelines with pressure from ¼ to 1000 PSI

Natural Gas Residential – ¼ PSI for most homes Commercial-large hotels can be as high as 5 PSI Distribution 60 psi in residential area Firefighters should secure gas at service meter Call SDG&E for assistance

Ruptured by backhoe,operator killed! Natural Gas Natural Gas Pipe ruptured during excavation project Ruptured by backhoe,operator killed!

Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG- composed of butane or propane Non toxic, odorless, asphyxiate Odor added but not in bulk transport 1 ½ times heavier then air, stays in low places Containers may may BLEVE Contact HIRT for assistance

Protective Measures During a Gas Emergency Five basic situations- Escaping outside Burning outside Escaping inside Burning inside Attempted suicide

Protective Measures Safety zone should be 200 feet around leaking lines ½ mile around tank or rail cars Extinguish all possible ignition sources Stop all machinery Reroute vehicle traffic Shut off all electricity Avoid generating sparks

Protective Measures Two inch and larger lines not burning CNG Will Rise Two inch and larger lines not burning -Evacuate as needed -Eliminate all ignition sources -Check for gas migration -Don’t bend poly pipes -Don’t plug steel pipes -Hose line and crew upwind LPG Will Sink

Protective Measures Two inch and larger lines burning- -Evacuate- call SDGE -Wear full PPE -Lay charged hose lines -Do not extinguish -Protect exposures -Don’t attempt to close gas valves Gas escaping inside building-ventilate and shut ignition sources Gas burning inside building- shut off gas at meter -use appropriate fire fighting procedures -protect exposures

Gas Shut Off- turn valve ¼ inch in either direction

Attempted Suicide- Natural Gas Do not enter building-call PD for assistance Shut down all services Do not ventilate initially Isolate area and evacuate as necessary Always use explosive proof smoke ejectors for ventilation when safe to do so

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Interview Evacuate Ventilate Investigate Educate

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Investigate Was the heater on? Fireplace? Oven or Stove being used for heat? BBQ or Lantern used indoors? Any repairs to gas appliances? Vehicle ran in attached garage? Other engine exhaust blown inside?

Enabling Objectives Demonstrate how to secure various utilities Describe the safeguards that are used Describe common causes of fires started by electrical services Describe the protective measures which will decrease the threat to life and property