It's a simple fact: Electricity and water do not mix. You knew of this hazard well before entering the firefighting profession. Now in the field, you and your team check for the presence of an AC current or electrical field before spraying down a burning building.

The Need for Voltage Detectors

Your firefighting training emphasized this essential step: Always check for live electricity before deploying your hose to put out a structural fire or control flames associated with a tree branch falling on a power line.

What can happen in these and similar scenarios? Essentially, the water flowing from the hose becomes a path for the electrical current. Once electricity travels in this direction, you and your fellow firefighters risk life-threatening burn injuries - both from molten metal and heat exceeding 3,000°F. Victims inside the burning building may also be exposed to electrified pools of water.

To ensure everyone's safety, your team brings out an AC current sensor or voltage detector to assess the scene before taking action.

What Voltage Detectors Do

In testing for electricity, voltage detectors help you pinpoint AC currents from a distance - from live wires to hidden sources. Based on the location of the fire, understanding if and where a current is present allows your team to disconnect the power source - be it the electrical grid or a generator - and safely put out the fire.

Ensure your department has several working voltage detectors ahead of an emergency. To stock up, browse Fire Safety USA's selection before placing an order online, through our call center or our direct fax line.