General News
11 September, 2024
Ergon calls for extra vigilance
Almost a dozen power poles have been lost in the past few months due to fires from what’s thought to have been a series of separate hazard reduction burns across the state.
Energy Queensland Chief Operating Officer Paul Jordon said while hazard reduction burning is an essential tool for managing vegetation and reducing fire risks, it is crucial to exercise caution to prevent unintended electrical infrastructure damage.
“It’s early in the fires season and already we are losing poles,” Mr Jordon said.
“We’ve had crews deploying to replace burned poles in Central Queensland and Wide Bay-Burnett.
“We had other crews supporting the Queensland Fire Department with a fire on the Southern Downs near Warwick on Sunday and we were fortunate not to have lost any assets there.”
Mr Jordon said landholders need to be careful when they are using fire on their properties, especially where there are power poles and other electrical assets.
Landholders can use lookupandlive.com to locate poles on their property.
“When we lose poles, we have wires down and customers lose power,” Mr Jordon said .
“In rural areas it can take a lot longer to ensure it is safe before our crews can enter the area and patrol to see what damage has been done.
“Fallen powerlines can cause serious injury or even death to people and livestock that come into contact with them.”
To minimise the chances of fire damaging power poles and property, property owners should trim or clear any long grass, foliage, and rubbish within a five-metre radius of electricity infrastructure and remain with any controlled burns they carry out.
