VIDEO: The people who keep us safe got a safety lesson of their own Monday night. More than 100 first responders in Northampton County turned out for a demo on the dangers of live power lines. First responders got a firsthand reminder of what can happen when a power line goes down.
“We want them to understand what’s in those facilities, what’s in the wire, the distance that they should be maintaining from those, and what can happen if they happen to do the wrong thing,” says Doug Haupt, Manager of Public Safety with PPL Electric.
These facilities were energized to 7200 volts, and the departments in attendance were presented with ten different scenarios they often face when responding to emergencies.
“We do run into it a lot with just storms and car accidents,” says Fire Chief Jeff Murray, Williams Township. Whether you’re a junior or a vet, firefighters say these lessons help save lives. “You never learn it all. You just need to have the respect for the power and for the electricity and stay away,” says Chief Murray.
