July 31, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Electric Pole Fire Causes Problems for Firefighters

■ Traffic on Shreveport Blanchard shut down for an hour this afternoon

A fire involving an electric pole and several adjoining power lines at the intersection of Shreveport Blanchard Highway and David Raines Road caused some problems for firefighters this afternoon just before 1:00 p.m. Fire crews responded to the intersection after receiving reports that the pole and surrounding ground were on fire. When crews from the close by David Raines’ station arrived, the fire involving the pole and ground was also spread along several power lines that crossed above both roadways.

Problems arose when, water being a conductive medium for electricity, firefighters were forced to wait until SWEPCO could turn off the power to the affected area before being able to douse what was turning into quite a spectacle. The sight of a flaming pole, power lines burning in several different directions, a brush fire, and the fire department standing by, was something that even seemed odd to firefighters. While waiting for the power to be killed, fire officials said that they had to explain the electricity/water issue and why the fire department was waiting to several concerned citizens. Once explained, all seemed to understand the situation.

In an attempt to prevent any injuries or property damage to vehicles, traffic was temporarily blocked along Shreveport Blanchard from North Lakeshore Drive to Lunn Street and north on David Raines. SWEPCO officials on the scene surmised that one of the power lines on the pole had possibly failed. This may have caused the plastic wrap around the line to melt and fall to the ground, igniting pine straw there. The entire incident was concluded at 1:52 p.m. ###