Paul Fenush from Baltimore County (MD) Engine Company 3 came across something quite interesting on a fire the other night; the pictures he sent in were taken by Michael Schwartzberg Fire Photographer with Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company.
The fire was a well involved fire that was consuming an unattached garage. The garage was used by a landscaper to store his equipment. Along with the garage, there were several other out-buildings in close proximity.
While they were operating they noticed a garden hose laying on the ground in-between the buildings. After working for a while on the fire ground they noticed a few things interesting about the hose… It was tied up in one of the trees. The fire ended up burning through the garden hose and revealed the true situation. The garden hose was being used as an above ground conduit to run power from the detached garage to some of the other out-buildings. They had run power wire thorough the inside of the hose.
Fortunately no-one got shocked by this custom installation, but if this thing was wired a little differently, who knows. What if the power hose ran the power from the main building to the detached garage, you may find an electrical shut-off on the garage and secure power to the building you are operating in, but the power hose from the hose is still hot. Now if it’s just a little 110, it might not be a big deal, but what if it had some big juice on it?
Good example of why operators need to get scene lights up guickly.
I love the idea just think what you can run through a 3″ line!!!!!
Better take this down or the engine guys are going to be redoing the wiring in the whole house. Another good use for all that hose…
“Now if it’s just a little 110, it might not be a big deal, but what if it had some big juice on it?”
At one time I thought 110v wasn’t any big deal. Then a FF in Miami was killed by 110v. He was doing some household wiring in his attic. Don’t underestimate the ability of 110v to seriously injure or kill you.
“Better take this down or the engine guys are going to be redoing the wiring in the whole house. Another good use for all that hose…”
HAHAHA…that’s funny.
Crazy homeowners.
Brotherhood above all.
Stay safe.
I have been to more than one fire where there was still power to the building even when utilities had been “secured” by crews (though the garden hose is a new one). I have seen everything from extention cords run from one house to another and lately “grow houses” being fed from a tap before the meter. Recently local utility crews found someone tapping into their neighbors line before the meter to save money; point being, just be careful even when you have pulled the meter or secured utilites. As far as getting “hit” by 110v, it hurt almost as bad as when I let the Police taser me, but that is another story…
On a serious note, I agree with Lieutenant Dan, 110 can kill you just as fast as 220!!! Electricity is something that needs to be respected and understood. Yet another good post, I am farley sure this has to be around our area as well. I am just curious was it a “zip line†(usually a three wire coax line) Or was it an extension cord??? And what’s up with all the water???? And C/O ain’t tasering a bitch!!! LOL I have been “lit up†four times god it hurts!!!
These new water cooled conduits are a economical solution for those overloaded circuits that constantly overheat……
Back to electrocution: Normally, when it comes to conducting electricity, we aren’t very good at it. ie when our skin and clothes are dry.
However, throw in sweat, water, wet gloves and bunker gear….BBBbbbbbZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz!
….and those conditions are the norm every time we’re “working”.
Sqaud 1, you are now my second favorite person on this site! Brickcity1306 is still my boy! Seriously though,I agree completely. Lights seemed to be an afterthought a lot of the time. Being able to see is a huge factor in reducing danger. Whether it’s carrying a light, lighting a scene,or ventilation, we need to see what’s in front of us. Unfortunately there is no glory in setting up lights so it gets side stepped.
Never underestimate stupid people, they are truly the ones we ALWAYS encounter.
Jon,, I had T-shirts made up a long time ago it simply said “never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups” LOL, remember some stupid people report to work the same time we do and strange they end up in our kitchen!!!
Alright, DMAN72, trut me im not that bright. We learned this the hard way with a near miss. While operating at a bread and butter house fire my Squad was assigned to outside vent. We went to the rear to ladder the building and get on the roof. After the job and about an hour into the call someone noted that the power drop from the house had burned off and was laying in the back yard about 5 feet from the foot of our ground ladder. o ya and it was hot. Since then we have invested in a new squad with a light tower and several small Honda generators with a scene light on top. There great, someone always gets them to the darker areas of a job and starts them up early, usually the operator. We can also use them to run other tools. There also great for overhall and sometimes lets us clear up sooner because we can leave them with the fire marshals office on the scene while they conduct there investigation. “So they dont need us to hang around for a generator or lights.” they just bring them back to the firehouse when there done.
These are the people who keep us employed…
Stay safe.
I have to agree with Lieutenant Dan on this one,
“At currents as low as 60 to 100 milliamperes, low-voltage (110-220 volts), 60-hertz alternating current traveling through the chest for a split second can cause life-threatening irregular heart rhythms. About 300-500 milliamperes of direct current is needed to have the same effect.”
Quoted from “Electrical Injuries.” The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition. Pennsylvania: Merck, 1997
Don’t ever underestimate electricity
Trust Told you I wasn’t that bright…
E23LT,
Take your medical mambo jahambo somewhere else. This is a truck site! (Just kidding, dont tell anyone Im actually a medic,too)
A medic and an Engine guy!!!!!! Gasppppppp, infiltrator!!! That’s ok I guess we understand, you bucket heads need someone to look up to just like the cops do…
Ha!
My luck it would attached to the water spigot. Just a drink and pow!!! Bug sapper city.
Job security brothers…. Job Security.
Did anybody check the conduit for water? Maybe the homeowner really is just a complete moron?
Two things come from western PA, world best firemen and World Champion Football Teams!!!!!!!!!!! HOOOWWWAAAAHHH STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!