Power line sparks; safety tips offered

The Fort Scott Fire Department responded to a call involving a sparking power line early Monday in the 500 block of Heylman Street.

According to FSFD chief Paul Ballou, once the officers arrived on scene, they discovered the sparking power line and alerted Westar Energy. Ballou said in order to make sure the sparks didn't ignite any nearby structures, the firefighters remained at the scene until Westar arrived and fixed the problem.

Ballou said it is important for area residents who witness a sparking power line or a downed power line to call the Fort Scott Police Department dispatch right away and stay back away from the line to avoid potential danger.

According to the Westar Energy Web site, www.westarenergy.com, extreme caution should be used when dealing with power lines.

"The first thing to understand about overhead power lines is that they are not insulated," the Web site said. "Keep all tools, ladders, poles and pipes, farm equipment, kites, model planes, television and CB antennas and tree branches, just to name a few items, away from power lines. If you must work near overhead power lines, allow for at least a 10-foot clearance in all directions for both you and materials."

If branches or any objects accidentally come into contact with a power line, residents should contact Westar immediately and avoid attempting to remove the object on their own. Wait until help arrives.

According to the Web site, residents who see a downed power line should assume the line is live, contact emergency personnel and stay back. Even if someone is touching the line, it is not safe to attempt to help that person.

"If you see someone touching a downed line, don't try to rescue them," the Web site said. "You could become a victim yourself. If a power line falls on your car while you're in it, stay in your car and wait for help. You are safe as long as you remain inside. If you must exit the car, jump, be careful not to touch the car and ground at the same time."