Powerline on Engine2014

At approximately 1221 on January 24, 2014, the Los Padres Communication Center dispatched resources to a structure fire within a privately owned parcel of the Los Padres National Forest. The first engine on scene was a cover engine from another National Forest that had been on the Los Padres for about five days. As soon as they arrived, thick black smoke was rising above the small canyon community. Their initial report was, “two structures fully involved” they parked their engine and engaged. During initial attack the engine was parked under service drop line for one of the structures. The first engine on scene parked within 50 feet of the burning structures. They were engaged with the fire when the local Battalion Chief arrived and noticed that both his vehicle and the engine were now positioned directly beneath the power lines. A line dropped on the unoccupied engine before crew could move it. The vehicle sat with an energized line on top of it for about 3 hours until the power company arrived and de-energized the line.