Tree and 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:

• If you climb a tree near a power line and touch the power line, electricity will go through you and you may be hurt or killed.
• A tree branch falling on a power line 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.
• A tree branch touching a high-voltage power line can make the branch so hot it catches fire. From there, the fire can spread to nearby trees, plants or buildings.