NineStar Connect presented a class for local first responders on approaching a scene where lines are down. Photo by Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — Hendricks County Deputy Fred Fislar died after he came into contact with live power lines while responding to a single-vehicle crash in April north of Plainfield.
The tragic incident caused officials with the Greenfield Police Department (GPD) to pause and consider their road patrol officers, wondering if they might need some new training to avoid a similar encounter.
“This type of training is something we pursued,” Chief Deputy of the GPD Chuck McMichael said.
Officials from Duke Energy and Greenfield Power and Light both gave GPD training material, but there was no type of in-person training. Fortunately, McMichael said officials with NineStar Connect stepped in and informed GPD they were hoping to offer power line safety training for public safety first responders.
They were able to have a training session Tuesday at the Hancock County Fairgrounds. NineStar Connect’s Alisha Roland helped organize the event and thanked officials with the Fairgrounds for letting them do the training sessions there at no cost.
“Kodi Swafford and three linemen from a fellow co-op, Hendricks Power, agreed to conduct the safety training,” Roland said.
Officials put together two training sessions for all county first responders. Roland said one of the main things they reminded first responders was that it is important take a moment to review the area when responding to an emergency.
“If you see a potential down power line, make sure it is de-energized before responding to the emergency,” Roland said. “We know first responders want to jump into action, but it is important to keep themselves safe as well.”
McMichael said both training classes were well-attended with 75 to 100 county first responders at the afternoon session. Officials with GPD made the class mandatory for their officers.
“The stuff they taught was really all stuff you learn in elementary school, the dangers of electricity and power lines, but it was a good reminder for the things we do as law enforcement and firefighters on calls like this that we respond to almost daily,” McMicheal said. “We tend to forget sometimes the dangers of what we’re going into, so this was a good reminder to, whenever you get close to an accident scene, look up and see if poles and lines are down.”
The bottom line is to make sure first responders don’t become victims themselves.
The big reminder?
If lines are down, everyone needs to stay at least 30 feet away.
“If there is an active powerline on the ground, you do not have to touch it to be electrocuted,” McMichael said. “If you’re within 30 feet, you are at risk of being electrocuted just by standing there or walking up toward it because electricity does not just stop, it goes into the ground.”
Roland noted it’s important to remember a person cannot visibly see if a powerline is energized or not, especially in the dark or in inclement weather.
“Keeping that top-of-mind when responding to these emergencies could save a life,” Roland said. “We wanted to provide this training locally to protect those who protect us.”
Roland said they hope to provide this training again in the future and expand to other counties in in their territory.
“Just stay away from the wires until power folks are on the scene,” McMichael said.
The training session was record via video by NineStar officials, and McMichael noted NineStar officials will upload the video at some point, allowing everyone to have access to it.
