Tree & Power Line Safety Electrical Safety-SMART! Home

Tree and Power Line Dangers

Trees near power lines are dangerous! When a tree grows close to a power line, it can create shock hazards, power outages, and fires:

• Never climb a tree near a power line and never touch the power line. Electricity will go through you and you can be injured or killed.
• If a tree branch falls on a power line, it can cause a power outage. Electricity will go off in any homes or businesses served by the power line until the electric utility can remove the branch and fix the line.
• If a tree branch touches a high-voltage power line, electricity from the line can make the branch so hot it catches fire. From there, the fire can spread to nearby trees, plants, or buildings.