For More Information Contact:
Lance Robertson, 984-4716
Eugene Water & Electric Board

June 28, 2006

Some fireworks can cause outages, safety hazards

Eugene Water & Electric Board is warning holiday revelers about the dangers of using fireworks under or near power lines this Fourth of July.

In particular, EWEB is concerned about fireworks that shoot plastic streamers or confetti into the air. In previous years, these fireworks have been responsible for a number of outages during the Independence Day holiday after the streamers came into contact with overhead power lines, shorting out fuses or causing breakers to trip electricity at substations.

Confetti in some brands of the fireworks contains a substance that conducts electricity. Streamers also can dangle far below power lines once they become tangled, creating the possibility of severe shock or electrocution should someone standing on the ground grab them.

More traditional illegal fireworks also have set wooden power poles on fire, resulting in outages.

EWEB asks residents to not use any fireworks around power lines, and if they see some of the red, white and blue streamers dangling from electric wires, to call EWEB at 484-2411.