CUTTING RISK TO FIRE CREWS
Off-duty SP Energy man helped disconnect power line threat:
AN engineer who was helping to move a farmer’s livestock away from a huge mountain blaze, helped save firefighters from being electrocuted.
Dylan Herbert arrived at Mynydd Cilgwyn, near Carmel, in Gwynedd earlier this month, after receiving a phone call from a friend asking for help to get farm animals away from the spreading flames.
Mr Herbert, who is an engineer and head of resources at SP Energy Networks, soon realised the danger facing fire crews due to the live power lines overhead, which can carry power of up to 11,000 volts.
Together with his SP Energy Network colleagues, Mr Herbert worked through the night and into the next morning supporting the fire service to identify the direction of the fire, which covered around a mile of the mountainside, before disconnecting power lines so crews could safely battle the blaze.
More than 40 firefighters fought the flames as emergency services began to evacuate nearby homes,
Without Mr Herbert’s quick thinking, firefighters would have faced additional risks from the live cables as they worked to extinguish the fire.
Mr Herbert said: “As soon as I saw the fire, I knew the situation was serious and, even though I was off-duty, it was crucial to roll up my sleeves and get to work.
“At SP Energy Networks, we’re used to working closely with North Wales Fire and Rescue to ensure the safety of people in the community.
“People can often overlook the dangers around power safety but in any kind of extreme incident, whether it’s a storm or wildfire, everybody needs to be wary of power sources and the potential risks involved.”
More than 160 customers were left without power as power lines were disconnected during the inferno, with the disruption to power supply essential in helping protect the firefighters on site.
Around 15 properties were evacuated during the blaze, with four people ending up in a rest centre while others stayed with family and friends.
SP Energy Networks also advised residents to switch off fuse boxes before leaving to avoid the risk of any house fires once power was restored.
Stuart Millington, senior operations manager at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This shows the value of working in partnership, resolving issues at incidents by working together effectively.”
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.