|
During the afternoon of August 5, 2005,
a cold front swept through the area touching off strong storms
across the region. Intense wind gusts signaled the beginning of
a change in the weather, and although the northern section of Simsbury was spared any
heavy downpours, an active electrical storm pounded the
vicinity. Just as the storm was ending, lightning struck an
electrical pole on Hoskins Road just to the east of
Firetown
Station. While the transformer did not explode as expected, one
of the primaries was severed by the strike, and the two sections
fell to the ground.
The eastern length of line
immediately began to arc 13,000 volts of electricity into the
ground while the western length appeared to be un-energized.
Hoskins Road was closed from both ends as a precaution, and
emergency personnel had to keep many curious bystanders at a
distance because of serious safety concerns. The hum from the
arc was so loud that the department responded to several calls
from residents over a mile away concerned about a strange noise
in their homes.
Without an immediate
life-safety issue, and because they were responding to numerous
calls from all over the area, the local electric company was
delayed in their response for some time. For several hours, the
eastern length of downed-line flowed electricity into the ground
creating a spectacular pyrotechnic display. When the power was
finally terminated to the eastern line, the western length of
downed-line suddenly became energized from a back-feed, and it
began to arc into the ground. After about fifteen minutes the
power to that line was also terminated.
Damage to the road surface and
lawn was impressive. The asphalt was very hot and soft over a
large area and hot gases were venting from below the surface. A
six-inch deep canyon had developed in the lawn as the wire
burned down into the ground. Soil had turned into glass in many
areas.
Firefighters attempted to dig
holes in the road surface to get water on the fire burning
underneath the asphalt. After 2,000 gallons of water had been
used to flood the area which yielded little progress, it was
decided that town highway personnel would have to dig up the
road in order to be able to extinguish the fire completely.
The Simsbury Volunteer Fire
Company would like to remind the public that downed wires are
incredibly dangerous, and you should always keep your distance
from them, as electricity can travel underground for
considerable distances to find victims. Even wires that do not
appear to be energized can most certainly still be live, and
wires that are not energized can suddenly become so. When
electrical lines fall across other objects such as cable and
telephone lines, fences and metal guard rails, those object can
also become energized, and fatal should you come into contact
with them. Immediately contact your local fire department and
electric utility in the event of downed wires and remember, the
further you stay from downed wires, the safer you will be.
13,000 volts arc into the ground.
Photograph by Fred Cosgrove At one point, flames six-feet high could be seen.
Photograph by Fred Cosgrove Sparks fly as gases vent from underneath the road's surface.
Photograph by Cliff Williams The western length of wire suddenly energized after the power was cut to the eastern length.
Photograph by Cliff Williams Damage to the street and lawn.
Photograph by Cliff Williams The wire burned down into the lawn approximately six inches.
Photograph by Fred Cosgrove Damage done to the road surface after the western length suddenly energized.
Photograph by Cliff Williams Capt. Geoff Giddings digs into the asphalt as Firefighter Marc Landry and Lt. Mark Jacobs pour water into the holes.
Photograph by Cliff Williams Steam vents from a crack in the asphalt.
Photograph by Cliff Williams Water boils from the heat underneath the surface.
Photograph by Cliff Williams After fresh water was flushed into the holes, it only took it a few moments to begin boiling.
Photograph by Cliff Williams The intense heat trapped underneath the surface is visible from this crack in the ground.
Photograph by Cliff Williams The sandy soil was turned to glass in many areas.
Photograph by Cliff Williams Looking into the glass bubble.
Photograph by Cliff Williams The trench created from the wire burning down into the ground. Notice how far the glass splattered.
Photograph by Cliff Williams Deputy Chief Mike Jepeal takes a break from his incident command duties to squirt some water.
Photograph by Cliff Williams Town highway personnel excavate the surface of the street.
Photograph by Cliff Williams A backhoe was needed to lift this 200 pound chunk of glass from the street and break it open for a closer look.
Photograph by Cliff Williams A flash photograph of the section of glass that was removed from the street.
Photograph by Cliff Williams An ambient light photograph showing the considerable heat contained inside the chunk of glass.
Photograph by Cliff Williams
13,000 volts arc into the ground.
Photograph by Fred Cosgrove
|
