Utility Services Safety
Course
Firefighter I
Unit II
Safety and
Orientation
Essential
Question
Who is
responsible for
the safety of the
public in
responses
involving public
utilities?
TEKS
§130.299(c)
(17)(A)(B)
Prior Student
Learning
4 classifications
of fire and the
extinguishing
methods for each
Estimated Time
4 hours total
Rationale
Much of what needs to be done in emergency service responses involving
utilities can be beyond the scope of many firefighters’ training and should
be left for utility personnel to handle. Establishing mutual aid agreements
and coordination with the different utility providers (electric, water, and
natural gas) is advised. Cross training with utility personnel can be helpful
for both entities to help minimize the dangers to both emergency response
and utility personnel. Because of the inherent dangers associated with
utilities that can be involved in emergency service responses, it is
imperative that firefighters know and understand those dangers and how to
respond appropriately.
Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Describe the procedures for terminating utility services to a building.
2. Explain the hazards that exist and describe the procedures to be
used in electrical emergencies.
Key Points
I. Utility Safety
A. Natural gas
1. A pure form of methane gas
2. Flammable but not toxic
3. Classified as an asphyxiate because it can displace air in a
confined space, leading to suffocation
4. Lighter than air and has a tendency to rise and disperse when
not confined
5. Odorless – receives its odor with the addition of mercaptan in
order to aid in leak detection
6. Distributed and transferred from wells through surface and
subsurface pipes
a) The range of pressure is from 0.25 psi to 1000 psi
b) Pressures in local distribution lines are usual 50 psi or
less
7. Has explosive limits in concentrations between 5% and 15%
in air
8. May be compressed, stored and shipped in pressure cylinders
identified and marked as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
9. May be shipped and stored as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
a) Subject to Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
(BLEVE) when it is exposed to fire
10. Emergency response
a) Contact your local utility company and request a utility
emergency response crew with the following resources:
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(1) Non-sparking tools
(2) Distribution system maps
(3) Prior training
B. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
1. Also sometimes referred to as bottled gas
2. There are two main gases classified as LPG
a) Butane
b) Propane
3. Primarily used as fuel gas in
a) Camping vehicles
b) Manufactured homes
c) Agricultural use
d) Rural homes and businesses where natural gas is not
accessible
4. Can be adapted for use in motor vehicles
5. Odorless – has an odorant added to give it a distinct smell
6. Nontoxic, but considered an asphyxiate for the same reasons
as natural gas
7. Different from natural gas because it is one and a half times
heavier than air and sinks rather than rises
a) Propane sinks to the lowest point possible and often
finds an ignition source
8. Has an explosive range between 1.5% and 10% in air
9. Shipped and distributed in cylinders and tanks on cargo trucks
10. Emergency response in LPG emergencies
a) The supply of gas can be stopped by shutting off a valve
at the tank
b) LPG leaks produce a visible cloud of vapor that hugs the
ground and can be dissipated by using 100 gpm or larger
fog streams
c) LPG tanks and cylinders are subject to BLEVE
d) Firefighters can prevent BLEVE by cooling the top
portion of the tank with water
C. Flammable Gas Incidents
1. Pipe breaks are often caused by excavation equipment
2. Emergency response
a) Call the gas utility company immediately
b) Approach leaks and gas fires from the windward
(upwind) side
c) Evacuate the areas immediately
(1) Surrounding the incident
(2) Downwind from the incident
d) Follow the department Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) regarding the crimping or plugging of leaks
e) If the gas is burning, protect the exposures but do not
extinguish the fire until the leak is controlled
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f) Locate the CNG gas meters and shut them off if the SOP
allows
g) If the meter is involved in the fire, protect the hose team
with a wide angle fog
h) In the closed position, the valve is at a right angle
(perpendicular) to the supply pipe
D. Electrical Emergencies
1. Electric substations and transmission lines
a) Always consider the power lines to be charged until the
local utility company verifies that they are not
b) Transmission lines often break and fall, creating fires in
dry grass or vegetation
c) Whenever you encounter fallen electrical lines cordon off
or isolate an area equal to one span between telephone
(electrical) poles
d) With associated fires, wait for the fire to burn an area
equal to one span between telephone (electrical) poles
before extinguishing it
e) Many local SOPs require notification of the local
electrical utility company when this type of incident
occurs (the scene is controlled until the utility company
arrives)
f) Only utility personnel should cut electrical wires (they
have the training and the appropriate tools for the job)
g) When it is necessary to shut off power to a building
(1) The main switch
(a) Can be used
(b) Should be locked and tagged out
2. Transformer involved fires
a) This type of fire is fairly common
b) Older transformers are often cooled with a carcinogenic
liquid that contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
(1) Firefighters must protect themselves from it
c) Use a dry chemical or carbon dioxide extinguisher to put
these fires out
d) Transformers located at the top of utility poles can be
allowed to burn until utility personnel arrive to extinguish
the fire from their aerial device
e) If there is a danger that the transformer may fall prior to
the arrival of utility personnel, local policy may allow
firefighters to extinguish it with a fog stream
3. Underground transmission lines
a) Often located in below grade conduits and vaults, fire
separated rooms that encase transformers or large
capacity electric motors
b) The greatest hazard is an explosion caused by blown
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fuses that ignite accumulated flammable gases
underground
c) Manhole covers
(1) May be blown over a considerable distance
(2) Could injure emergency response personnel and
members of the public
d) Members of the public should be kept a minimum of 300
feet away from the scene
e) Extinguishment should be made from outside the vault,
and the only time a firefighter should enter a vault is for a
rescue
f) Firefighters should use a pike pole to remove the
manhole cover – be aware of a possible back draft
situation
g) Once the cover has been removed, extinguishment can
be accomplished by using carbon dioxide or dry chemical
extinguishers – not water because of the electrical shock
hazard
E. High Voltage Installations (Electrical)
1. Commercial and industrial electrical equipment
a) Commonly have capacities of 600 volts or greater
b) Marked with High-Voltage signs on their vaults, fire
separated rooms that encase transformers or large
capacity electric motors
c) Water (including fog streams) should not be used
because of the shock hazard and damage that it may
cause to equipment not involved in the fire
d) PCB laced coolants and chemicals used in insulating the
equipment create very toxic smoke which is another
danger for firefighters
e) Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including SelfContained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) must be worn by
firefighters
f) A tag line should be monitored from outside, and a Rapid
Intervention Team (RIT) or Rapid Intervention Crew
(RIC) should be in place
g) All searches should be done using clenched fists or the
back of the hand to prevent involuntarily grabbing
energized equipment as a result of reflex reaction
h) All firefighters exposed to smoke or other toxins should
be properly decontaminated after the incident
F. Securing Electrical Power
1. Deciding to shut off or leave on the power
a) It might be recommended to leave the power on at some
structural fires in order to
(1) Provide lighting
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(2) Supply fire pumps, ventilation equipment, and other
systems in the building
b) The Incident Commander (IC) will make the call, perhaps
after speaking with the Incident Safety Officer (ISO)
c) Having control over the electrical power is necessary
when firefighters are performing emergency operations in
a building
d) It is not always necessary to shut power off to an entire
building if the fire is isolated in one area of the building
e) If the building becomes involved or damaged to the point
that electrical power becomes a hazard, the power
should be turned off at the main panel or power source
(1) It is preferred that an electric company employee do
this
(2) Follow the local SOPs
f) At some facilities, removing the electrical meter will not
entirely shut off the power to a building
(1) Be aware of installations of auxiliary power
generators for emergency power
(2) Ask for assistance from electric company
employees
g) Be aware of pirated utilities
(1) Often used in drug labs and marijuana growing
operations
(2) Not charged to the meter, so the power companies
are not aware of the increase in power at the
address
(3) The perpetrators may go undetected by law
enforcement for a long time
(4) Firefighters should cautiously watch for
(a) Makeshift wiring
(b) Toxic and or flammable chemicals
(c) Man traps (booby traps) set by the building
occupants
G. Electrical Hazards and Injuries
1. Consequences of electrical shock
a) Electrocution associated with high-voltage equipment
b) Electrocution associated with conventional residential
current
c) Cardiac arrest
d) Ventricular fibrillation – an abnormal, irregular heart
rhythm characterized by very rapid, uncoordinated
fluttering contractions of the lower chambers (ventricles)
of the heart
e) Respiratory arrest
f) Muscular contractions
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g) Paralysis
h) Burns – electrical heat that causes arcing can create
temperatures in excess of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit
i) Joint damage
H. Safety Principles for Electrical Emergencies
1. Create exclusion zones equal to one span in all directions
from the downed power lines
2. Be watchful for weakened wires that may fall
3. Wear full PPE
4. Use tested and approved insulated tools
5. Guard against shocks, burns, and eye injuries from electrical
arcs
6. Wait for electrical utility employees to cut the power lines
7. Use lockout/tagout devices to secure electrical power supplies
8. Check for overhead electrical obstructions when using ladders
9. Do not touch any vehicle that is in contact with electrical wires
10. Jump clear of apparatus that may be energized from fallen
wires while keeping both feet together
11. Do not use solid or straight streams on electrical fires
12. Use fog streams with at least 100 psi nozzle pressure on
electrical equipment
13. Avoid ground gradient hazards by maintaining a safety zone
when dealing with downed electrical wires
14. Remember that voltage drops as it spreads away from the
source
Activities
Discontinuation of Utility Services. Have students locate, identify, and shut
off the following in a building or residence secured for this skill. Use the
Discontinuation of Building Utilities Checklist for assessment.
 Electric main panel
 Gas service cutoff
 Water meter valve
Note: Students must not manipulate any utility service that they have not
been trained to shut off, or that would normally be the responsibility of
utility personnel. This activity involves shutting off switches and closing
valves. Nothing beyond this basic scope of training should be attempted.
Assessments
Utility Services Safety Quiz and Key
Discontinuation of Building Utilities Checklist
Discussion Rubric
Presentation Rubric
Summary Rubric
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Materials
Utility Services Safety computer-based presentation
Building with utility services
Drawing materials
Computers with Internet access
Resources
0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5th Edition), International Fire
Service Training Association (IFSTA), 2008
1428339825, Firefighter's Handbook: Firefighter I and Firefighter II (1st
Edition), Delmar Cengage Learning, 2008
Do an Internet search for the following: fire fighter close calls
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, the students will do a residential home survey and
locate the utility service drops for their home. They will draw a site plan of
their home showing the location of the following utilities:
 Main electric service (commonly located on the outside of the
home)
 Main electric fuse box (commonly located in the garage or in the
utility room of most homes)
 Natural gas meter (commonly located on the outside of the home)
 Water utility shut off (commonly located between the street and
sidewalk)
Have the students make a brief presentation of their site plan. Use the
Presentation Rubric for assessment.
For enrichment, students will visit a website and select a news story about
a firefighter or firefighters injured in a structural fire. (To find an article do
an Internet search for the following: fire fighter close calls.) They will
determine if utilities were a factor in the injury. Use the Summary Rubric
for assessment.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.299. Firefighter I (One to Two Credits).
(17) The student describes the handling of different types of
accidents and hazards. The student is expected to:
(A)
describe the procedures for terminating utility services
to a building;
(B)
explain hazards that exist and describe procedures to
be used in electrical emergencies;
College and Career Readiness Standards
English/Language Arts Standards
IV. Listening
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B. Listen effectively in informal and formal situations.
2. Listen actively and effectively in one-on-one communication
situations.
3. Listen actively and effectively in group discussions.
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Name________________________________
Date__________________________
Utility Services Safety Quiz
1. _____ Natural gas is a pure form of which of the following gases?
A. Propane
B. Methane
C. Map gas
D. Acetylene
2. _____ What is the main purpose of mercaptan when added to natural gas?
A. To aid in leak detection
B. To make natural gas lighter than air
C. To provide a pleasant odor to the natural gas
D. To make natural gas heavier than air
3. _____ The explosive limits of natural gas are concentrations between
A. 6 and 18% in air
B. 7 and 21% in air
C. 5 and 15% in air
D. 8 and 24% in air
4. _____ Which of the following statements about natural gas is false?
A. Natural gas is classified as an asphyxiate because it can displace air in a
confined space leading to suffocation
B. Natural gas is lighter than air and has a tendency to rise and disperse when not
confined
C. Natural gas may be compressed, stored, and shipped in pressure cylinders
identified and marked as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders
D. Natural gas is flammable and toxic
5. _____ There are two main gases classified as LPG. They are
A. Methane and ethane
B. Acetylene and map
C. Propane and butane
D. Butane and methane
6. _____ LPG’s explosive range is
A. 1.5 and 10% in air
B. 2.5 and 12% in air
C. 3.5 and 13% in air
D. 4.5 and 14% in air
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7. _____ Which of the following statements about emergency response in LPG emergencies
is true?
A. The supply of gas can be stopped by shutting a valve at the tank
B. LPG leaks produce a visible cloud of vapor that hugs the ground
C. LPG tanks and cylinders are subject to BLEVE
D. All of the above
8. _____ When gas supply valves are in the closed position, they are
A. Parallel to the supply pipe (inline)
B. At a 90 degree angle to the supply pipe (perpendicular)
C. At a 45 degree angle to the supply pipe
D. At a 60 degree angle to the supply pipe
9. _____ Emergency personnel should approach leaks and gas fires from
A. The leeward or downwind side
B. The uphill side
C. The windward or upwind side
D. The downhill side
10. ____ Commercial and industrial electrical equipment commonly have
A. Capacities of 600 volts or greater
B. Capacities of 800 volts or greater
C. 220 volts or greater
D. 110 volts or greater
11. ____ In an emergency involving electricity
A. Always consider power lines charged until the local utility company verifies that
they are not
B. When it is necessary to shut off power to a building, the main switch can be
used, and it should be locked and tagged out
C. Transmission lines often break and fall, creating fires in dry vegetation
D. All of the above
12. ____ In electrical fires dealing with transmission lines
A. Many local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) require notification of the
local electrical utility when this type of incident occurs
B. That have fallen, cordon off or isolate an area equal to two spans between
telephone (electrical) poles
C. Only fire service personnel should cut the lines
D. None of the above
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13. ____ Transformer fires
A. Are fairly common
B. Should be extinguished with carbon dioxide or dry chemical extinguishers
C. Can expose firefighters to a carcinogenic liquid that contain polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs)
D. Should be extinguished with fog steam if there is danger that the transformer
may fall prior to the arrival of utility personnel, depending on local policy
E. All of the above
14. ____ Members of the public should be kept a minimum of how many feet away from fires
occurring in underground electrical transmission vaults?
A. 200 feet
B. 300 feet
C. 400 feet
D. 500 feet
15. ____ Which of the following statements is true regarding emergency responses in high
voltage electrical installations?
A. PCB laced coolants and chemicals used in insulating the equipment create very
toxic smoke, creating a danger for firefighters
B. Full PPE including SCBA must be worn by firefighters
C. A tag line should be monitored from outside, and a Rapid Intervention Team
(RIT) or Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) should be in place
D. All searches should be done using clenched fists or the back of the hand to
prevent involuntarily grabbing energized equipment through reflex reaction
E. All of the above
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Utility Services Safety Quiz Key
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. C
6. A
7. C
8. B
9. C
10. A
11. D
12. A
13. E
14. B
15. E
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Name: _________________________ Date: __________________________
Discontinuation of Building Utilities Checklist
Directions – With a building secured for training, you will locate building services common to
a residential home. After locating the electric main panel, the gas service cut off, and the
water meter valve, you will shut off each. You WILL NOT manipulate or touch any utility
service that you have not received training on or that would normally be the responsibility of
utility personnel to deal with. You will begin on my instruction to start. The skill will end when
you state to me that you have completed all of the identified steps. Do you understand these
instructions?
2 pts.
each
Performance Objectives
Have students describe and demonstrate the following tasks:

Verbalize an order from his or her officer to turn off the building
utilities (services)

Locate and shut off the electricity at the main fuse panel (box)

Locate and shut off the gas service (LPG/CNG) at the supply valve

Locate and shut off water supply at the water meter valve

Report back to his or her officer that he or she has completed the
assigned tasks
Total points possible - 10
Instructor’s Signature
Date
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Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
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Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Presentation Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Topic/Content
 Topic discussed completely and in-depth
 Includes properly cited sources (if used)
Creativity/Neatness
 Integrates a variety of multimedia effects
to create a professional presentation
(transition and graphics) or appropriate
visual aid used
 Title slide, table of contents, bibliography
are included, using acceptable format
Mechanics
 Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
capitalization are correct
 Image and font size are legible to the
entire audience
Oral Presentation
 Communicates with enthusiasm and eye
contact
 Voice delivery and projection are
dynamic and audible
Audience Interaction
 Presentation holds audience’s attention
and relates a clear message
 Clearly and effectively communicates the
content throughout the presentation
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
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Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Summary Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
The critical analysis has all required
parts from introduction to body to
conclusion.
The critical analysis is concise but
complete.
The critical analysis demonstrates
that the writer comprehends the
content.
The critical analysis demonstrates
accurate spelling, grammar, and
punctuation.
The overall content of the critical
analysis emphasizes appropriate
points.
The writer shows an understanding
of sentence structure,
paragraphing, and punctuation.
The source of the critical analysis is
clearly and accurately documented.
The critical analysis demonstrates
the correct use of terminology.
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
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