FIRE SERVICES CHANGE PROGRAMME
PROJECT: HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE
Guidance on Electrical Hazards for the Fire Service
27th February 2006
Noted
1
FIRE SERVICES CHANGE PROGRAMME
PROJECT: HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE
Title
Guidance on Electrical Hazards for the Fire Service
Author (S)
Siobhán Malone
Version
1
Status
Discussion document
Submitted
To
Approved
By
Noeleen Behan
27/1/06
Sean Hogan
27/1/06
2
Introduction
The objective of this guidance is to make information available in one reference
source on the main hazards, and appropriate actions to be taken, to ensure the safety
of fire fighters when they are dealing with electrical hazards at normal incidents, or
with specific hazards arising at electrical installations.
This guidance is being provided under the auspices of the Safety, Health and Welfare
Enhancement part of FSCP. Following some recent fire incidents involving electrical
hazards, it was proposed to raise awareness among fire service personnel of the
dangers of electrical hazards in various situations. This guidance is part of an
electrical safety awareness programme for fire service personnel involving the
following stages:
 Developing and getting approval for this Guidance;
 Circulating the Guidance to all fire authorities, and placing it on the FSCP
Web-site;
 Ensuring the Guidance is brought to the attention of fire-fighters in every fire
station, and is incorporated into local training programmes;
 Reporting the outcome of this programme, and taking any further follow-up
action.
The guidance is structured similar to the guidance in Section 4 of the Fire Services
Council Junior Officer Handbook. Section 4.2.11 of that Handbook dealt with the
hazards and actions relevant for “Overhead Power Lines”. This guidance deals with a
further nine potential electrical hazard situations. This guidance should not be treated
as a comprehensive procedure and is to be used in conjunction with the fire-fighter
and officers handbooks and local procedures.
Potential Situations/ Incidents involving Electrical Hazards
The following are the potential situations/ incidents involving electrical hazards which
are dealt with in this Guidance.











Fires in Private Dwellings
Incidents involving motor Vehicles/ Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Incidents involving Trains, LUAS and DART
Fires in Generating Stations
Fires in Transformers
Incidents involving overhead power lines
Incidents involving Substations
Fires in Cable Boxes
Fires in Industrial Premises
Fires involving Storage Batteries
Fires involving Uninterruptible Power supplies (UPS)
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References /Further Reading
1. “Fire Service Operations - Electricity” The UK Fire Service Manual, Volume
2, Chapter 5: Fire fighting Procedures, 1998.
2. "A Guide to Operational Risk Assessment”, UK Fire Service Guide, Volume
3, 2004.
3. Junior Officer Handbook – First Edition, Fire Services Council, November
2003.
4. Senior Officer Handbook – Fire Services Council, First Edition, April 2001
5. Fire-fighter Handbook– Fire Services Council, First Edition, April 2001
Websites:
www.hsa.ie
www.esb.ie
www.etci.ie
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Equipment Isolation
Hazards

Extinguishing a fire where supply cannot be isolated and where fire is known to
have started through an electrical fault

Live electrical equipment
(ESB owned)
Actions

PPE as appropriate

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has
not been declared to be isolated by an authorised person

Use Carbon dioxide, vaporising liquid, powder, dry sand or ashes

Ensure the apparatus is electrically isolated and safe to approach – this should be
carried out by an authorised person from the ESB (if ESB owned equipment)
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Fires in Private Dwellings
Hazards
Caused by
 Faulty electrical appliances
 Faulty circuits
 Carelessness

Exposed live wires
Note: Service cable may be exposed if meter and fuse installation on wooden board have
been damaged in the fire
Actions

Notify ESB

PPE as appropriate

Isolate the supply at the consumer’s main fuse board, remove plug from socket, (if
possible) and make safe before extinguishment

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has
not been declared to be isolated by an authorised person
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Incidents involving Motor Vehicles/ Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Hazards

Electrocution from vehicle battery

Chemical burns from vehicle battery

Undeployed airbags on all sides and power seat belt pretensioners.
Hybrid cars:

500 volts

Nickel metal hydride electric battery in electric vehicles
Actions

PPE as appropriate

When appropriate, remove key from ignition

When appropriate, isolate battery

Be aware where pretensioners are located before extrication process
Hybrid cars:

PPE as appropriate

When appropriate, remove key from ignition

Check for critical markings

Bright orange coil around the high-voltage cable that runs under the carriage of the
car from the trunk to the engine.

Isolate battery pack located in the rear of the vehicle.
May consider foam blanket on the ground if involved at RTA
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Incidents involving Trains, LUAS and DART
Hazards

High Voltages

Trains 380V

LUAS 750V DC

DART 1500V DC
Actions

PPE as appropriate

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has
not been declared to be isolated by an authorised person

Driver or other qualified person to confirm isolation and earthing

Deal with incidents as per local procedures
Note: Dublin Fire Brigade have procedures for dealing with incidents involving
the DART and the LUAS
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Fires in Generating Stations
Hazards

Electrocution

Outputs of 1400MW approx.

Fuels may include heavy fuel oil, gas turbine oil, diesel oil, LPG, natural gas and
coal

Hazardous substances may include methanol, propane, hydrogen, methane,
chlorine and oxygen

Toxic and irritant smoke from PVC insulation (on cables)

Superheated Steam
Actions
 PPE as appropriate

Operate ONLY when proper communications are verified with generating station
personnel and fire crews

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has
not been declared to be isolated by an authorised person

Operation of local fixed installation system (possibly Pyrogen, CO2 or other gas),
if not automatic

Ensure appropriate ESB person with firefighters at the incident and operate to ESB
Emergency Procedures

Be aware of and contain if necessary fuels and other hazardous substances eg. Oil
tank fire etc

Wear appropriate P.P.E. including B.A.
Note: Pre-fire planning and familiarisation exercises to be carried out regularly
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Fires in Transformers
Hazards

Electrocution

Burning transformers (or oil-filled switch gear) may explode and spray burning oil
over a considerable distance

Explosive gases including hydrogen, acetylene and methane

Transformer may not be bunded leading to fire spread to other transformers

Burning transformers may cause ionisation of the air causing electricity to flash
from phase to phase, phase to earth or adjacent structures or equipment

Residual Charges sufficiently powerful to cause electrocution

Highly toxic PCBs (mainly commercial or industrial premises)
Actions

PPE as appropriate

Ensure isolation and earthing of the affected transformer

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has
not been declared to be isolated by an authorised person

Firefighting attack to be made only when the extinguishing media has been
established and there are sufficient stocks to sustain the operation

Fire fight from a distance

Take advantage of available protection

Lay and maintain a foam blanket around the transformer, if not bunded (to contain
burning oil)

If PCBs released contact EPA

Operation of local fixed installation system, if not automatic
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Incidents involving overhead power lines
Hazards

Fires near power lines may cause ionisation of the air causing arcing to take place

RTA near power lines may cause power lines to come down

Fallen trees near power lines may cause power lines to come down
Note: Power lines may be insulated for mechanical and not electrical purposes
Actions

PPE as appropriate

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has
not been declared to be isolated by an authorised person

Care should be used when using ladders and long items of equipment

Fire fight from a distance

If RTA near powerlines do NOT approach until ESB have confirmed supply is
switched out and earthed

If there are fallen trees near powerlines do NOT approach until ESB have
confirmed supply is switched out and earthed
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Incidents involving Substations
Hazards

Electrocution

Injured people may carry a residual charge of several thousand volts
Actions

PPE as appropriate

Do NOT enter sub-station unless assurance has been received by authorised person
from the ESB that this can be safely done
Until such authorisation is given firefighters must NOT
 Climb equipment
 Use ladders
 Do not direct any jet or spray above ground or beyond any fitted safety screens

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has not
been declared to be isolated by an authorised person

Rescue should not be carried out unless assurance has been received by an
authorised person from the ESB that this can be safely done
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Fires in Cable Boxes
Hazards

Electrocution
Actions

PPE as appropriate

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has
not been declared to be isolated by an authorised person

CO2 or Dry powder to be used to extinguish fire

Do NOT use wet sand
Fires in Industrial Premises
Hazards
 High Voltage transformer and switchgear
Actions
 PPE as appropriate

If in doubt about status of equipment, assume to be live and contact ESB

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has
not been declared to be isolated by an authorised person

For a small fire it may be only necessary to isolate circuits near the fire, and this
should be done by the plant engineer/ electrician
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Fires involving Storage Batteries
Hazards



Lead Acid/ Nickel Iron Batteries
Sodium Sulphur Batteries
Sodium Nickel Chloride Batteries
Actions

PPE as appropriate

Confirm suitable firefighting medium for battery type at pre-fire planning

Wear appropriate PPE including B.A

Evacuate to at least 10 metres of the incident
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Fires involving Uninterruptible Power Supplies (*UPS)
Hazards

Electronic equipment (eg PCs) assumed “dead” are in fact “live”
Actions

PPE as appropriate

Firefighters should treat all PCs as being “live”

Water or foam should NEVER be sprayed on any electrical apparatus which has
not been declared to be isolated by an authorised person

Seek advice before disconnection, as, in hospitals UPS used on vital or life saving
equipment

Get confirmation of isolation and Safe to Enter
*UPS: Power supply that includes a battery to maintain power in the event of an electrical
power failure
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