Arcing Power Lines Cause Tree Fire & Explosion

Arcing wires are being blamed for a spectacular explosion that took place in this Northern Washington city over the weekend.
Trouble began when a 60-foot poplar tree swaying into high voltage power lines Saturday afternoon. The tree branches danced closer and closer to the lines, eventually catching on fire.
But after 10 minutes, fire trucks had yet to arrive at the scene. Meantime, the electricity began pulsating, and the flames were intensifying.
"Like every time it would hit, it would be like, 'Dzzzzz,' and basically sounded like a light saber -- the light saber sound in Star Wars.'"
The arc caused a power surge, damaging many computers and circuit breakers in the neighborhood. Some 4,500 people were left without power.
"The computer fried, a fax machine fried, things like that," said Chris McCoy, computer technician for 3D Corp.
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