Downed power lines cause small grass fire along Hwy. 77 this morning near Italy
After reaching the scene along Highway 77 and Martinez Road, Italy firefighters Brad Chambers, at the wheel, and Brandon Jacinto, manning the hose, communicate via headphones to avoid dangling power lines in an effort to saturate the resulting grass fire with water. (Barry Byers)
Italy — The Italy Fire Department’s first responders were dispatched this morning at 9:15 a.m. to deal with a small grass fire that resulted from downed power lines at Highway 77 and 1036 Martinez Road across from Flying Bar C Ranch on the outskirts of town.
Italy Firefighter Donald Chambers directed his crew as well as traffic while steering vehicles clear of the snapped power line curled up along one side the highway while fellow firefighter Brandon Jacinto manned the fire hose from the back of Brush Truck 1 with firefighter Brad Chambers maneuvering the landscape to keep the fire from igniting a tree line.
Oncor reached the scene about 9:45 a.m., and after meeting with Donald Chambers, Oncor called for backup to help repair the downed lines prompting Donald Chambers to declare the location clear sending Jacinto and Brad Chambers back to the fire station just before 10:00 a.m.
The Italy Fire Department appreciates drivers slowing down while being allowed to pass between rescue vehicles and hopes everyone will slow down whenever approaching the scene of an accident or fire. Remember, always put on your blinker and safely pull to the side of the road whenever emergency vehicles have their lights flashing and/or sirens blaring and are coming towards you in the opposite lane or if they need to pass.