Look, something new! Now fog can cause transformers to catch on fire! That's amazing! And utterly unbelievable. C'mon man! At least make up plausible stories. Something, likely something electrical in nature, caused a number of power poles in the Texas wilderness to catch on fire. Is this related to the Fort Worth transformer madness a couple of years ago? Strange stuff indeed.
Thousands across parts of Central Texas were left without power on Thursday after dozens of power poles suddenly burst into flames, likely caused by the weather conditions.
A Department of Public Safety communications officer said power poles in Hill, Falls, Bell, Williamson and McLennan counties began bursting into flames at about 4 a.m. CST Thursday, according to KWTX.
The power poles were reportedly burning at the tops of the poles, some involving transformers.
As many as 50 power poles were reported burning at one point early Thursday across parts of Hill County alone.
Hilco Electric Cooperative, which serves Dallas, Ellis, Hill, McLennan and Johnson counties, had 26 poles catch fire, 24 of them in Hill and McLennan Counties, assistant general manager Lea Sanders said.
The power company, Oncor, meanwhile, reported that about a dozen utility poles throughout several counties caught fire, spokesman Mike Cain said.
More than 4,000 lost power as a result of the power pole fires early Thursday.
One power company technician said that the fires likely were caused by a build up of dust on transformers that shorted out due to low-lying fog, according to the WacoTrib.
The phenomenon that caused the fires, known as “tracking,” can occur when dust accumulated on the insulators of utility poles comes into contact with heavy fog conditions.
The moisture, combined with caked-on elements, can act as a conductor of sorts, causing electricity in the power lines to arc and the poles to catch fire, several experts said.
The National Weather Service reported dense fog developed on an initial wave of moisture that surged across the region early Thursday morning.
Read more at - http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Authorities-Checking-On-Series-Of-Thursday-Morning-Power-Pole-Fires-182344131.html
Dense fog, dust results in dozens of power pole fires in Central Texas
Thousands across parts of Central Texas were left without power on Thursday after dozens of power poles suddenly burst into flames, likely caused by the weather conditions.
A Department of Public Safety communications officer said power poles in Hill, Falls, Bell, Williamson and McLennan counties began bursting into flames at about 4 a.m. CST Thursday, according to KWTX.
The power poles were reportedly burning at the tops of the poles, some involving transformers.
As many as 50 power poles were reported burning at one point early Thursday across parts of Hill County alone.
Hilco Electric Cooperative, which serves Dallas, Ellis, Hill, McLennan and Johnson counties, had 26 poles catch fire, 24 of them in Hill and McLennan Counties, assistant general manager Lea Sanders said.
The power company, Oncor, meanwhile, reported that about a dozen utility poles throughout several counties caught fire, spokesman Mike Cain said.
More than 4,000 lost power as a result of the power pole fires early Thursday.
One power company technician said that the fires likely were caused by a build up of dust on transformers that shorted out due to low-lying fog, according to the WacoTrib.
The phenomenon that caused the fires, known as “tracking,” can occur when dust accumulated on the insulators of utility poles comes into contact with heavy fog conditions.
The moisture, combined with caked-on elements, can act as a conductor of sorts, causing electricity in the power lines to arc and the poles to catch fire, several experts said.
The National Weather Service reported dense fog developed on an initial wave of moisture that surged across the region early Thursday morning.
Read more at - http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Authorities-Checking-On-Series-Of-Thursday-Morning-Power-Pole-Fires-182344131.html
