Crews extinguish pole-top fire in Castletown. Photos: Leonnie Gilpin on Facebook
Horizon power and emergency service crews worked to safely extinguish a pole-top fire in Castletown on Sunday.
Esperance community member Leonnie Gilpin posted pictures on Facebook of the burnt pole-top outside her home.
Ms Gilpin said she wouldn’t have been aware of the fire had it not been for a stranger who noticed the fire and alerted her.
A Horizon Power spokesperson said the pole-top fire on Easton Road was one of two pole-top fires crews responded to on Sunday.
“Power was lost to 474 customers at 12.45am, while crews responded to an incident on Simpson Street, in Chadwick. Power was restored to customers at approximately 2.25am,” she said.
“Crews also responded to a pole top fire at 8.30am on Sunday at Easton Road, which impacted 173 customers. Power was restored to 150 customers by 12pm, with the remaining customers back on by 3:30pm.”
The spokesperson said the fires were caused by Sunday’s humidity
“Pole top fires can happen when there is a run of very hot, dry and windy days followed by a sudden misty, cold front,” she said.
“Humidity and light rain can combine with dust built up on insulators, resulting in tracks of dirt that can allow electricity to spark, in some cases eventually resulting in heating to a point of combustion.”
In a press conference last Sunday, WA premier Roger Cook said the Government was working towards programs to prevent pole-top fires.
“Western Power are investigating new technologies such as drone technology which will allow them to apply silicone coatings in a live electricity environment,” he said.
Mr Cook mentioned previous programs that involved workers cleaning pole-tops that unfortunately led to the death of a worker.
“We need to continue to make sure we can do this in a way which doesn’t endanger lives,” he said.
The Horizon Power spokesperson reminded people to stay at least ten metres away from fallen or damaged powerlines.
“Call Horizon Power’s 24-hour hotline – 13 23 51 – to report any new electrical faults or power outages,” she said.
