Property owners are being urged to take extra precautions if they’re conducting controlled burns near the electricity network.
Network Area Manager for Ergon Energy, Brian Dingle said landholders needed to be aware of the dangers associated with power poles being damaged or destroyed by fire.
“We’ve had significant damage in areas right across regional Queensland in the past two fire seasons,” Mr Dingle said
“Fires in Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast, South Western Queensland and around Toowoomba all impacted our customers and the poles and wires that supply them with power — some for up to a week.”
He said anyone seeing a fire close to power poles or if they see a pole on fire, should call triple zero.
“Just as concerning is a pole that is only partially burnt because it could be significantly weakened and fail at a later date, bringing down high-voltage wires,” Mr Dingle said.
He also urged landholders to be aware of their surrounds and remain vigilant to keep themselves and their property safe while conducting any bushfire mitigation work.
“We’re asking property owners to trim or clear any long grass, foliage and rubbish within a three-metre radius of their poles and closely monitor any controlled burns they carry out,” Mr Dingle said.
This year’s bushfire season in Queensland officially began on 1 August.
