What makes electricity capable of causing fires

Conductor Slap — Power lines are designed with sufficient clearance between conductors to keep them from contacting each other under most operating conditions.

Certain unusual circumstances, however, can cause line conductors to slap together. Conductor slap creates high-energy arcing and ejects hot metal particles capable of igniting ground-level combustibles.

In addition, where line conductors are made of aluminum, the ejected particles may burn as they fall. In conjunction with line monitoring efforts at multiple utility companies, TEES has documented multiple instances of a phenomenon known as fault-induced conductor slap FICS.

FICS occurs when a fault at one location on a circuit creates sufficient magnetic forces to cause line conductors at another location, perhaps a mile or more away, to swing together and cause a second, near-simultaneous fault. Conventional tools and processes available to utility companies often do not enable correct diagnosis of this phenomenon.

Correct diagnosis is important because field research shows that a line span that experiences one episode of FICS likely will experience additional episodes in the future, unless the condition is identified and corrected. Detecting an episode of FICS, perhaps during a period of modest fire risk, enables corrective action that eliminates subsequent episodes, which otherwise might have occurred at times of high risk. Repetitive Faults — Each power line fault creates some risk of fire.

Most faults are isolated events e. The GC—MS analysis revealed that the majority of the components of the two samples were alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.

A further investigation was performed to identify the temperature at which each vapour mixture would become flammable. The findings of this study provide a useful assessment of the temperatures at which flammable mixtures will be formed. They could assist in the prediction of fires and explosions in electrical substations. Preparing for large-scale solar deployment measures to ensure a reliable future power system.

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Still, some external factors are unavoidable, so continue to use extreme caution when dealing with any form of electricity. Once in a safe location, call and DTE at For more information about how to safely deal with power lines and downed wires, visit empoweringmichigan. Power lines: Why they catch fire and what you should do if you see one by Jack Reynolds Oct 25,