SOP Manual - Cleveland Fire Department

Cleveland Fire Department
Operations Manual
Electrical Emergencies
Purpose
To provide a policy for the proper handling of electrical emergencies.
Objective
To establish guidelines in order that members may effectively handle electrical emergencies, while
providing safety margins with limited exposure to the hazard area.
Scope
This policy applies to all Fire Department personnel.
Responsibility
The responsibility for the enforcement of this policy rests with the Incident Commander and/or the
Company Officers.
Policy
All Fire Department personnel shall use the following guidelines on responses involving electrical fires.
Personnel must remain on the scene of downed lines, power poles, etc. until they have been de-energized or
the Utility Company is on the scene and releases the Fire Department.
Upon Arrival
A. Determine the type of electrical problem, and request Cleveland Utilities or Volunteer Electric to
respond if needed.
B. Give dispatcher proper location of incident (pole number, house number, name of residence if
possible, and etc.).
C. Set up operational perimeter. Request Police or Sheriff’s Department for assistance when
necessary. (The rule of thumb for establishing an electrical incident operational perimeter is to
maintain a distance of one complete span of wires on either side of the fallen wires.)
D. Park apparatus outside of the operational perimeter.
Effective: June 1, 1997 Revised: 5/14/2009 Page | 119
Approved by: Chief Chuck Atchley