The utility company recently held some demonstrations at the state Department of Transportation facility in Mayville on the power of electricity.

National Grid has a machine that it uses to show what happens when things like a stick, an aluminum ladder, or even rubber boots come in contact with a live line.

The demonstrations were given to members of the state DOT before a doing demonstrations to local media.

The first demonstration showed how a fuse was popped when a live line connects with a tree branch. The blown fuse sounded like a gun being fired. “That fuse did exactly what it’s supposed to do. That separates the arc,” one of the National Grid technicians explained.

A demonstration shows that even heavy rubber boots can catch fire when coming in contact with a live wire, including downed power lines.

After that they showed what can happen to a fireman’s boot if it were to come in contact with a downed line. “There’s a misconception that if I’m wearing rubber boots I should be OK, but we’re going to disprove that,” a technician said. After the rubber boot made contact, it quickly caught fire.

There were other demonstrations as well.

They had a hot dog touch an electrified fence, which carried the same amount of power as a phone line. The hot dog immediately caught fire. “That’s what would happen to your hand if you got a hold of that energized fence,” a technician said.

Another demonstration showed the importance of calling authorities before digging with a backhoe or event a deep hole with a shovel.

A demonstration shows how an aluminum ladder can catch fire when in contact with a live wire.

In New York, individuals must call 811 or use the UDig NY online service at least two to ten business days before digging to have underground utility lines marked, which is required by law. This applies to all digging, even on private property, and is crucial to prevent injury, service disruptions, and fines.

The shovel, which had a metal end and a wooden handle, immediately caught fire when it came into contact with an electrified wire that was 4,800 volts.

Another demonstration had an aluminum ladder placed against a live wire. Flames broke out at the top of the ladder.

David Bertola with National Grid said the live line demonstration is done all over the region for members of the media, first responders, DOT employees and others to show the power of electricity.

Winter is the most common time for downed lines, especially when ice builds up and adds weight, either to the lines or to tree branches, causing them to break.

Some general safety tips include:

– Assume every downed power line is live.

– Never get out of a vehicle that has a downed line on it.

– Try to avoid driving over a downed line.

“There’s invisible dangers associated with electricity. You don’t know you’re in trouble until it’s too late,” Bertola said.