Clearance Distances
Wildfires have the potential to damage power transmission or telecommunication lines, which can have critical implications to public safety. One method to minimize the potential for fire to damage this equipment is to clear vegetation away from the lines, poles and towers. Clearing distance guidelines have traditionally been developed from the standpoint of “what is required to prevent ignition of fires due to arcing from the line to the ground?” But the clearance distance required to prevent fire caused damage is different. This study addressed that question.
This study was conducted jointly between the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory and Region 2 of the Forest Service. Xcel Energy Corporation was also a partner in this effort. The primary objective was to define the vegetation clearing distances required to minimize thermal damage. The study had three objectives: 1) collect anecdotal information about damage to power and telecommunication infrastructure; 2) run computer simulations of thermal impact to support towers and poles, overhead conductors, and ground based enclosures; and 3) correlate data from simulations with literature and observations.
Image of power transmission line in natural setting.
Principal Investigator: Bret W. Butler
Contact: Jason Forthofer
Funding Contributor(s):
Joint Fire Science Program
USFS National Forest Systems
Xcel Energy Corporation
Project Years: 2011-2016
Key Personnel
Principal Investigator
-
Person
Bret W. Butler, PhD
Research Mechanical Engineerhttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/bret.butler
Contact
-
Person
Jason M. Forthofer
Research Mechanical Engineerhttps://research.fs.usda.gov/about/people/jason.forthofer
Collaborators
Research Collaborators:
- USFS Region 2
- Xcel Energy Corporation
Funding Contributor(s):
- Joint Fire Science Program
- USFS National Forest Systems
Additional Funding:
- Xcel Energy Corporation
Select Publications
- Bret W. Butler, J. Webb, J. Hogge, T. Wallace. 2015. Vegetation clearance distances to prevent wildland fire caused damage to telecommunication and power transmission infrastructure