Why vegetation must be kept away from power lines

[@dragonrider4253]

I heard this caused the infamous 2003 northeastern blackout. Workers were 2 spans away trimming trees when a fault occurred, causing a cascade failure. If i remember right anywhere from 8 to 20 plans were turned off completely or partially when the one 138 kV line shorted through a tree. I imagine that would have been LOUD. Almost all of new york and a good area around it went out, and took them weeks to restore it all.

[@ElloImNoodle]

All because one line decided to poke a tree causing another to poke into a tree and another and I think another which just caused the entire blackout all around

[@amandasarahhusein7071]

Just happened in Indonesia, because of a tree growing under transmission line's wire it create electric arc and almost half of java island (include jakarta) black out for 2 days

[@figure8775]

Thank you hydro Québec very cool

[@frankdavidson9675]

where i live it takes an act of congress to cut a tree limb.??????in the city my land is not in the city limits its called tree city usa lot of shade in summer down town

[@lindseytwiss5275]

OH NO