Fortunately no one was hurt when an SUV veered into a power pole in Parkland Acres in Lacombe yesterday morning, although the Volunteer Fire Department is out with a safety message if you ever find yourself in a situation involving live power lines.
 
The incident happened shortly after 8:30 am near unit 36 in the mobile home park, with the pole breaking and coming down, also damaging a transformer.
 
Lacombe Fire Chief Ed van Delden says if there is no compelling reason, like a fire to leave your vehicle, the best course of action is to stay put.

“The line first of all doesn’t have to be touching the car to create the hazard. A power line down anywhere around the car could create really a voltage potential differential which is really just a fancy way of saying you could get a shock. Call for help.”
 
van Delden says when they arrived the vehicle was clear of passengers, they dealt with the leaking transformer and a couple of smoldering fires in a tree where the lines made contact, while Fortis crews were on the scene within 15 minutes to de-energize the line.
 
There were localized power outages for much of the day as a result.