[RE-wrenches] Request for signage, disconnect, other safety photos

[Dan Fink]

Hi all. In addition to being a solar and wind system consultant and 
author, I'm an officer on a volunteer fire department in a remote area 
of the Northern Colorado mountains. About 5 percent of the residences in 
our response area are off-grid, though the gridless area comprises over 
75% of the district. We are a classic "urban interface" department, both 
wildland and structural.

I'm working on a short powerpoint presentation about renewable energy 
systems to give at meetings of other local urban-interface fire 
departments, and likely make available free on the internet. I'm the 
only responder on our department who lives off-grid, and most 
firefighters don't realize the special issues with off-grid systems.

They expect that when you swing your axe and chop the mains off from the 
powerline (or, preferably, throw the switch, but that's not always 
possible), all circuits in the home, outbuildings and property are dead. 
This is not the case with islanding systems, nor with solar arrays and 
wind turbines using non-islanding grid-tie. And now that we commonly 
wire PV and wind at voltages over 100v, it could be hazardous to the 
firefighter that was not informed. Other aspects of the presentation 
include wind turbine tower guy wires and their anchors that are 
vulnerable to weakening from vegetation burning under them, the hazards 
of battery banks, various ways well pumps might be connected (nice to 
have water at the scene), and more.

Please contact me off list if you have any photos you would be willing 
to share, with credit and copyright notice to you. Images of signage, 
interesting system disconnects (not everyone has a factory-built power 
panel) and their labeling, anything that might relate to firefighter 
safety, would be much appreciated.

DAN FINK
Technical Director
http://www.otherpower.com/

Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department
http://rcvfd.org/

KC0VRD
WQGS890