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Education about electricity might have saved lives

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Mission Valley Power likes to give back to and educate our local communities, schools and public service agencies as much as possible. On Dec. 28th and 29th of 2018, Brent Burland with the Mission Valley Power engineering department and local volunteer firefighter put on an electrical safety information and demonstration class for Lake County E911 Dispatchers and it became immediately invaluable. The knowledge that Lake County E911 dispatchers gained from this class was put to use immediately.

A call came in around the Ferndale area about a vehicle accident involving a downed powerline. As our first line of defense in these situations, the dispatcher instructed the driver to keep all approaching bystanders away from the area and also had to instruct the driver how to safely exit the vehicle. No one was injured or worse – electrocuted. First responders arrived and secured the scene until the local power company could arrive to make the scene safe.

A couple days after the Ferndale incident, OEM Director/Ronan Fire Chief Mark Clary also found this class beneficial as Ronan Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire in which the chief may well have saved firefighters from making contact with a chain link fence where a live powerline came down. Burland had just demonstrated this scenario during the class a few days prior.

A third incident occurred in the Pablo area where a downed live powerline was arcing and burning on the ground. The dispatcher instructed deputies and bystanders to keep the public and vehicles at a safe distance. Deputies blocked the roadway until Mission Valley Power arrived making the scene safe. In this incident, Mission Valley Power determined when they arrived on scene that the 7,200- volt powerline was still energized.

In all of these incidents, it is quite possible that lives were saved, not only the public but responders as well. There is not often a second chance when it comes to electricity.

Thank You Mission Valley Power and Brent Burland for providing Lake County 911 with such an instrumental electrical safety information and demonstration class. For more information on the availability of classes, please contact Mission Valley Power at 406-883- 7946. Mission Valley Power’s Safety Officer Arnold Sorrell will be able to answer any questions that you may have.

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