For electrical emergencies in Marathon County, responders should request WPS (or the local electric utility provider) through Dispatch. Dispatch will make the utility notification and coordinate the response.
When possible, provide Dispatch with the nearest pole number, property address, and a clear description of what is damaged or what action is needed.
Do not assume electrical equipment is safe because:
The power is out in the area.
The wire is not arcing or sparking.
The line is lying on the ground.
A breaker has tripped.
A building disconnect has been operated.
The wire appears to be a communications line.
Someone reports that the power has been shut off.
Maintain an appropriate safety perimeter until the electrical hazard has been evaluated and, when necessary, the electric utility confirms that equipment is de-energized.
Responders should not cut electric service conductors or pull an electric meter to disconnect electrical service. If the building has an appropriate customer-owned disconnect, it may be operated in accordance with department procedures and incident conditions.
When utility-side isolation is necessary, request an emergency electrical disconnect through dispatch. Provide:
Property address
Nature of the incident
Known damage to the electrical service
Where the WPS representative should report on arrival
Treat the line as energized.
Keep responders, apparatus, patients, and bystanders away from the line and anything it may be touching.
Request WPS through dispatch.
Provide the nearest pole number when available.
Advise dispatch what the line is contacting, such as a vehicle, tree, structure, road, or other utility line.
Do not use the WPS outage map as confirmation that a line is de-energized.
Do not approach or move the line until the electric utility confirms it is safe.
WPS recommends maintaining at least 25 feet from a downed power line. Greater distances may be necessary depending on the incident.
Treat all wires and the vehicle as potentially energized.
Keep occupants in the vehicle unless an immediate threat, such as fire, requires them to exit.
Establish a safe area around the vehicle, pole, and wires.
Request WPS through dispatch.
Read the pole number to dispatch if it can be observed safely.
Tell dispatch whether wires are down, the pole is broken or leaning, transformers are involved, or electrical equipment is on the vehicle.
Do not move the vehicle or utility equipment until hazards have been evaluated.
A damaged pole may remain standing while structurally unstable. Wires may also be under significant tension even when they are not on the ground.
Request an electrical disconnect through dispatch as early as possible.
Give dispatch the exact property address if different from dispatched address.
Clearly state that WPS is needed for an emergency disconnect.
Tell dispatch about unusual electrical hazards such as damaged service conductors, arcing equipment, solar equipment, or electrical equipment involved in the fire.
Use a customer-owned disconnect only when appropriate and consistent with department procedures.
Do not cut electric service conductors.
Do not pull the electric meter to disconnect the building.
WPS can determine the appropriate location to isolate electrical service. Requesting the disconnect early may reduce delays when crews later need confirmation that electrical service has been isolated.
Keep personnel clear if there are damaged, sagging, or downed wires.
Request WPS through dispatch.
Read the pole number to dispatch if it can be done safely.
Describe whether the pole is broken, leaning, struck or burning and whether wires or transformers are involved.
Advise whether the pole or wires are blocking a roadway or creating another immediate hazard.
Do not assume a pole is safe because all wires remain overhead.
Establish a safe perimeter.
Treat the equipment and surrounding conductors as energized.
Request WPS through dispatch.
Provide the pole number or exact location.
Describe the equipment involved and what it is doing, such as arcing, smoking, burning, leaking, hanging, or damaged by impact.
Keep personnel away until the electrical hazard has been controlled.
Do not approach electrical equipment simply because visible arcing has stopped.
Treat the tree and line as energized.
Keep personnel and the public away.
Do not cut or move the tree.
Request WPS through dispatch when the situation presents an emergency or public-safety hazard.
Provide the nearest pole number or exact location.
Advise whether the tree has brought wires down, is blocking a roadway, is contacting a structure, or is creating another immediate hazard.
Electric current can travel through a tree, equipment touching the tree, and the surrounding area.
Keep personnel out of the affected area when energized equipment may be involved.
Do not assume breakers or other protective devices have removed the hazard.
Request WPS through dispatch when utility equipment or the incoming electrical service is involved.
Provide the property address and describe the electrical equipment affected.
Wait for confirmation of electrical isolation when needed before operating in the hazard area.
If responders cannot determine whether a wire or piece of equipment is electrical, treat it as energized.
Keep personnel away.
Request WPS through dispatch.
Provide the location, nearest pole number when available, and a description of the hazard.
Do not rely on the appearance of a wire to determine whether it is electrical, communications, or another type of utility line.
Most local electrical incidents should be routed to WPS through dispatch. If an incident clearly involves a high-voltage transmission line or transmission facility:
Establish a large safe area.
Treat all equipment and the surrounding area as energized.
Advise dispatch that a transmission line or transmission facility is involved.
Dispatch coordinates with WPS (distribution), and WPS coordinates with ATC (transmission).
As first responders, we do not need to determine whether the line belongs to WPS or ATC; those agencies coordinate emergency response with each other.