Photo By Ana Henderson | (Left to right) YPG Command Sgt. Maj. Herbert Gill, Shearwater’s power maintenance...... read more read more
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When rain and wind are in the forecast for the dry desert, a multitude of things can go wrong. From flash floods and knocked over trees and powerlines, to fires sparked from lightning strikes.
Earlier this month, all of the above happened at YPG when a strong winter rain storm blew through southern Arizona.
At just about 1 A.M. on Jan. 20, Shearwater Mission Support (SMS) Project Manager Jaysen Locket received an urgent call from the YPG Police Department.
“The salt-cedar trees collected moisture from the rain and started to sag close enough to the line. It started arching back to the dead area in the tree and smoldering,” explained Lockett.
Smoke filled the skyline near the YPG Travel Camp. When the linemen arrived they saw small flames and trees on fire, “The fire department had everything under control they were just waiting on authorization to get in there and spray the trees,” said John Redmon, lineman.
The process involved coordinating with Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District (WMIDD) to isolate the line before they could work since WMIDD provides power to Hidden Shores Resort. Once MWIDD opened their switch and grounded their lines it was action time. “Mike Campbell ended up cutting that whole line there,” said Lockett.
That was just the first of the electrical emergencies, “They came back to recharge before their normal shift and then they get a call that there’s a pole literally on fire.”
No word if the cause was a lightning strike for sure but the pole was on fire. “Again the fire department has to hold back until these guys get there to de-energize and secure the line before they can get close let alone spray anything on it,” explains Lockett.
Fortunately power from only one building had to be shutdown to do the repair. That same morning the crews installed new poles, powerlines and transformer.
“When you look at those poles you don’t really think there is a lot that goes into it but there is a lot” says Lockett.
Right before the end that very long day the crew received another call to reset communications towers. Without those towers testing could have come to a halt.
YPG Commander Col. Patrick McFall, Command Sgt. Maj. Herbert Gill, and Garrison Manager Ronnie James gathered to personally thank the crew for their work in such dangerous conditions.
“You get called to action when conditions are bad: rainy, fires-- and then we ask you to play with electrical wires. What you do is extremely dangerous,” said McFall.
That it is. Redmon recalls, “You would try to look up and it was just pouring down rain,” It was raining the entire time.
The linemen say it’s all in a very long day’s work and they all seem pretty humble about their work yet the YPG leaders knows without them a lot of things could be jeopardized.
“I don’t know if you guys see it that way but you really are saving lives,” adding, “We rely on electricity so much that we don’t realize it. So I want to say that I am proud of you guys. That I am thankful.”
Gill told the crew, “You’ve got dedication for this community and I really do appreciate it.”
| Date Taken: | 02.11.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 02.18.2021 09:48 |
| Story ID: | 388885 |
| Location: | YUMA PROVING GROUND, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, YPG leaders thank linemen for working in dangerous conditions to keep YPG running, by Ana Henderson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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