HID 15 • January 2002

Fire Fighters Exposed to

Electrical Hazards During

Wildland Fire Operations

Description of Hazard

Among the various hazards fire fighters face are electrical hazards

during wildland fire suppression activities. The National Fire Protection

Association (NFPA) reports that 10 fire fighters died from contact

with electricity during wildland fires between 1980 and 1999 (this

figure does not include lightning strikes) [NFPA 2001]. As part of the

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire

Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, NIOSH investigated two separate incidents in 1999 in which fire fighters died

or were seriously injured from exposures to electricity while fighting

wildland fires [NIOSH 1999a,b].

Fire fighters performing fireground operations near downed power

lines may be exposed to electric shock hazards through the following

means [NWCG 1998; IFSTA 1998b]:

•	 Electrical currents that flow through the ground and extend

several feet (ground gradient)

•	 Contact with downed power lines that are still energized

•	 Overhead power lines that fall onto and energize conductive

equipment and materials located on the fireground

•	 Smoke that becomes charged and conducts electrical current

•	 Solid-stream water applications on or around energized, downed

power lines or equipment

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
CASE STUDIES

Case 1

On June 23, 1999, a 20-year-old male volunteer fire

fighter was electrocuted while fighting a grass fire

[NIOSH 1999a]. The volunteer fire fighter was one

of a crew dispatched to a grass fire where a power

line was reported to be down. The volunteer fire

fighter arrived and immediately helped the Deputy

Chief and a fire fighter/paramedic extinguish the

fire on the east flank. The volunteer fire fighter then

walked toward a smoldering pile of brush near the

downed power line. As he pulled a charged, 1-inch

line over the uneven terrain, he apparently tripped

and fell onto the 6,700-volt, downed power line.

Other fire fighters on the fireground used a

nonconductive tool to pull the line from under the

victim. He was moved to the street, received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and was then taken

to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Case 2

On October 4, 1999, a 20-year-old male volunteer

fire fighter was electrocuted and two other fire

fighters were injured when they contacted an energized electric fence while fighting a grassfire [NIOSH

1999b]. Central Dispatch notified the fire department of a fire that was started when a downed

power line ignited the surrounding grass. The Chief

arrived first, followed by Engine 1 and two fire

fighters. The Chief indicated to Central Dispatch

and to the responding fire fighters that the electric

fence bordering the area was energized by the downed

power line. The driver of Engine 1 and the three fire

fighters crawled underneath the bottom wire of

the electric fence. They positioned themselves approximately 50 feet from the downed power line

and attacked the primary fire. After the fire was extinguished, the three fire fighters crawled under the

fence a second time. The two surviving fire fighters

do not remember the injury event. However, it is

believed that when one of the survivors was crawling on her back under the electric fence, a hook from

her bunker coat might have contacted the bottom

wire of the fence. It is believed that the other two

fire fighters were shocked while trying to help the

fire fighter who was still energized. All three were

removed from the energized area, and basic first aid

procedures were administered until the ambulance

arrived. One of the injured was transported by helicopter to an area hospital, and another was transported by ambulance to the local hospital and later to

the burn unit of an area hospital. The third fire fighter

was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.

Recommendations for Prevention

To minimize the risk of electrocution, electrical

shock, and electricity-related burns while fighting wildland fires, NIOSH recommends that fire

departments and fire fighters take the following

precautions[IFSTA 1998a,b; NWCG 1998; NFPA

1997; 29 CFR* 1910.332(b); 29 CFR 1910.335(b);

Brunacini 1985]:

Fire departments should do the following:

• Keep fire fighters a minimum distance away

from downed power lines until the line is

de-energized. This minimum distance should

equal the span between two poles.

• Ensure that the Incident Commander conveys strategic decisions related to power

line location to all suppression crews on the

fireground and continually reevaluates fire

conditions.

• Establish, implement, and enforce standard

operating procedures (SOPs) that address

the safety of fire fighters when they work

near downed power lines or energized electrical equipment. For example, assign one

of the fireground personnel to serve as a

spotter to ensure that the location of the

downed line is communicated to all fireground

personnel.

• Do not apply solid-stream water applications

on or around energized, downed power lines

or equipment.

*Code of Federal Regulations. See CFR in references.
•	 Ensure that protective shields, barriers, or

alerting techniques are used to protect fire

fighters from electrical hazards and energized areas. For example, rope off the energized area.

•	 Train fire fighters in safety-related work

practices when working around electrical

energy. For example, treat all downed power

lines as energized and make fire fighters

aware of hazardsrelated to ground gradients.

•	 Ensure that fire fighters are equipped with

the proper personal protective equipment

(Nomex® clothing compliant with NFPA standard 1500 [NFPA 1997], leather boots, leather

gloves, etc.) and that it is maintained in good

condition.

•	 Ensure that rubber gloves and dielectric overshoes and tools (insulated sticks and cable

cutters) for handling energized equipment

are used by properly trained and qualified

personnel.

Fire fighters should do the following:

•	 Assume all power lines are energized and

call the power provider to de-energize the

line(s).

•	 Wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the task at hand—Nomex® clothing

compliant with NFPA standard 1500, rubber

gloves, and dielectric overshoes and tools

(insulated sticks and cable cutters).

•	 Do not stand or work in areas of dense

smoke. Dense smoke can obscure energized

electrical lines or equipment and can become charged and conduct electrical current.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The principal contributors to this publication were

Kimberly L. Cortez and Thomas P. Mezzanotte,

NIOSH. External reviews were provided by Dick

Mangan, U.S. Forest Service; Rita Fahy, National

Fire Protection Association; Heather Schafer, National Volunteer Fire Council; Michael Korns, Allegheny Power.

REFERENCES

Brunacini AV [1985]. Fire command. Quincy, MA:

National Fire Protection Association.

CFR. Code of Federal regulations. Washington, DC:

U.S. Government Printing Office, Office of the Federal Register.

IFSTA (International Fire Service Training Association) [1998a]. Essentials of fire fighting. 4th ed.

Stillwater, OK: Oklahoma State University, Fire Protection Publications.

IFSTA (International Fire Service Training Association) [1998b]. Fundamentals of wildland fire fighting.

3rd ed. Stillwater, OK: Oklahoma State University,

Fire Protection Publications.

NFPA [1997]. NFPA 1500, standard on fire department occupational safety and health program. Quincy,

MA: National Fire Protection Association.

NFPA [2001]. Fire fighter fatalities data base, 1980

to 1999: Electrical hazards during wildfire suppression activities, 1980–1999. Quincy, MA: National Fire

Protection Association.

NIOSH [1999a]. Volunteer fire fighter is electrocuted

while fighting a grass fire—California. Cincinnati,

OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication

No. 99F–26.

NIOSH [1999b]. Downed power line claims the life

of one volunteer fire fighter and critically injures

two fellow fire fighters—Missouri. Cincinnati, OH:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety

and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 99F–37.

NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group)

[1998]. NWCG fireline handbook 3. Boise, ID: National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

SAFER � HEALTHIER � PEOPLETM
For More Information

To receive more information about occupational safety and health topics,

contact NIOSH at

Publications Dissemination

4676 Columbia Parkway

Cincinnati, OH 45226–1998

Telephone: (1–800–356–4674)

Fax: 513–533–8573

E-mail: pubstaft@cdc.gov

or visit the NIOSH Web site at

NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making

recommendations to prevent work-related illness and injuries. NIOSH conducts

the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program to determine

factors that cause or contribute to fire fighter fatalities suffered in the line of duty

and to develop strategies for preventing similar incidents in the future. More

information is available at

NIOSH

www.cdc.gov/niosh/firehome.html

1–800–35–NIOSH

www.cdc.gov/niosh 

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002–112

Fire Fighters Exposed to Electrical Hazards

During Wildland Fire Operations

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

4676 Columbia Parkway

Cincinnati, OH 45226–1998

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