Do you know what to do if powerlines come down on your car?

Toronto Hydro joins Toronto Fire Services to educate the public on downed wires

TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - Toronto Hydro and Toronto Fire Services held a live demonstration today on how to react when powerlines fall on your vehicle.

Downed wires can happen during severe weather that Toronto commonly sees in February – such as freezing rain and high winds.

If wires come down on a vehicle, the safest place to be is inside the car, as live powerlines can electrify the ground. Call 9-1-1 for help and then wait for Toronto Hydro to make the area safe.

Public safety is a priority for both Toronto Hydro and Toronto Fire Services. By hosting this event and raising awareness about what to do if powerlines fall on your car, the goal is to keep motorists safe.

For more safety information, visit torontohydro.com/safety and toronto.ca/fire

QUICK FACTS

• Since 2010, there have been more than 1,200 cases of vehicles colliding with hydro poles. During that same time, there were 413 instances of vehicles coming into contact with our wires
• Toronto Hydro has more than 15,000 kilometres of overhead wires across the city
• If you are in a collision and electrical wires come down on your vehicle, it is important to stay inside and call 9-1-1. Wait until Toronto Hydro can clear the wires and make the crash scene safe
• If you must get out of your vehicle because of a fire, jump clear of the vehicle with feet together. Keep feet together and shuffle your feet close together a safe distance away – at least 10 metres (the length of a school bus) – as downed wires can electrify the ground

QUOTES

"It can be a scary situation to have powerlines come down on your car.  With the help of Toronto Fire Services, we're hoping raise awareness and educate Toronto residents, keeping them safe on our roads."
- Tori Gass, Spokesperson, Toronto Hydro

"We're often the first to arrive on scene to a collision or a fire emergency. This means we sometimes respond to downed wires.  We were pleased to join Toronto Hydro for this event as we're always looking for ways to enhance public safety awareness."
- Toronto Fire Chief Jim Sales

ABOUT TORONTO HYDRO

Toronto Hydro owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 752,000 customers located in the city of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 19% of the electricity consumed in the province of Ontario.

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ABOUT TORONTO FIRE SERVICES

The Toronto Fire Services is committed to protecting life, property and the environment from fire, hazardous materials, natural disasters and other emergencies. It is an all hazards, full-time fire and rescue service that provides high quality, efficient and effective emergency response along with fire prevention and educational services to those who live in, work in, and visit the City of Toronto.

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SOURCE Toronto Hydro Corporation

Image with caption: "Toronto Hydro crews demonstrate how to make a scene safe if powerlines come down on a car. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160218_C7388_PHOTO_EN_623981.jpg

Image with caption: "Toronto Fire Services demonstrates how to exit a car safely if powerlines come down and there's a fire. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160218_C7388_PHOTO_EN_623979.jpg

Image with caption: "How to react if powerlines come down on your car. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160218_C7388_PHOTO_EN_624003.jpg

TORONTO HYDRO CONTACT: Tori Gass, Communications and Public Relations, 416-903-4037, [email protected], 24-hours media line: 416-903-6845, [email protected]; TORONTO FIRE SERVICES CONTACT, 24-hours media line: 416-338-0763, [email protected]