Utility control during structural firefighting operations:
Your key response strategies
Structural firefighting operations place firefighters in direct proximity to gas and electric utility lines that may be compromised by fire conditions or by the fire suppression effort itself. These utility lines may pose hazards to a structure’s occupants as well as to you and your team.

When responding to a structure fire, remember that utility personnel are the experts in utility control. As soon as a structure fire has been confirmed, your dispatch center should initiate calls to all utility companies that serve the property. (Some dispatch centers have a policy of automatic utility notification for all confirmed structure fires.) National Grid or the local electricity and natural gas providers should be asked to respond to every structure fire. Once on the scene, the utility representative should be incorporated into the command structure.

Essential pre-planning
Conduct pre-planning for target hazards in your response area, such as hospitals and commercial/industrial buildings that pose significant risks. Schedule crews to conduct building walkthrough inspections to locate the type and location of all utilities. Keep in mind that the location of utility infrastructure and the utility controls in each structure are unique.

Operational considerations
It is essential to consider the time and personnel that may be required to properly secure compromised utility systems. Utility representatives can provide guidance as soon as they arrive on the incident scene.

These steps can help you protect yourself and a building’s occupants from electrical shock hazards and natural gas risks:

1. Upon arrival at the incident scene, identify the location of utilities during your 360-degree size-up.
2. During operations, communicate the status of utilities to operating crews and your dispatch center.
3. Work with utility company personnel to coordinate the safe control of utilities.
4. If the electrical panel is accessible and it is safe to utilize the breakers in the panel, shut off electrical breakers, working from the bottom breaker up to the main breaker.
5. Other than in the case of a rescue, consideration should be given to securing utilities before entering hazardous areas, especially those that accumulate water in proximity to electricity.
6. Be aware that fire conditions may cause energized power lines to sag or become disconnected from their structure and drop to the ground.
7. Even after the electricity has been turned off, a backup generator may be in place and begin to operate. Treat all wires, machines and appliances inside the structure as potentially energized, and stay away.
   
8. When water must be used to protect exposures, stay at least 30 feet away from the source of electricity or any energized objects. Use a 30-degree fog pattern
   at 100 psi.

9. Ensure that all personnel, ladders and equipment remain at least 10 feet away from power lines.
10. If you have been trained to do so, you may stop gas service by shutting off the service valve located on the piping before the gas meter. A gas service valve is closed when the valve lug is perpendicular, or crosswise, to the gas pipe. Inform National Grid of any gas service valve that has been closed. Once a service valve is closed, only National Grid may re-open it.
11. Let gas fires burn until the source has been turned off.
12. If unignited gas is being released into the involved structure, evacuate the building.
13. If a leak is suspected, check the surrounding area and structures for the presence
    of gas.
14. Coordinate with National Grid or the local energy provider to restore electric and
    gas service.

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Learn more gas and electrical utility response tips at
firstresponder.ngridsafety.com.
National Grid’s free First Responder Utility Safety Training Program has helped thousands of emergency response personnel learn to operate safely during incidents involving utility hazards. This program, which includes gas and electric certification trainings, covers natural gas pipelines and electric power lines as well as other facilities.

Through this training, you will gain the knowledge, skills and technical ability required to respond to the most common electrical and natural gas emergencies.

Our certification programs are self-paced. Users who complete the gas and electric programs will earn personalized certificates of completion.

Keep yourself, your team and the public safe. Register
today, and complete your utility safety training. Visit firstresponder.ngridsafety.com.

Smell Gas. Act Fast.