Calif. Eyes Fire Danger From Pole Wires
Sep 05 - United Press International
California utility regulators ordered an investigation into the risk of
wires breaking on utility poles that hold large numbers of cables and power
lines.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) called for the probe this
week in a report on the danger of wildfires due to "pole overloading."
"We don't know how widespread and serious the problem is, which is precisely
why we're setting up the protocols and beginning the broad-scale
inspections," Richard Clark, director of the CPUC safety division, told The
San Diego Union-Tribune Friday. "They've started one fire, and one is one
too many."
A downed cable television line has been blamed for starting a serious
wildfire during last fall's destructive outbreak in San Diego County. The
investigation found numerous broken lashing wires, which are used to secure
electricity-conducting fiber-optic cables to other wires and cables that are
strung between utility poles.
San Diego Gas and Electric Company is being sued in connection with the
fires. The Union-Tribune said the cable company might be added as a
defendant.
SDG-and-E and Cox Communications have denied any wrongdoing, and the CPUC
report did not specifically cite pole overloading as a cause of the fire. |