Pole-top fires result in power outages for thousands across Perth, Western Power and DFES respond

At least 40,000 homes and businesses are without power across the city after overnight rain sparked dozens of pole-top fires.

According to Western Power, tens of thousands of residents were plunged into darkness after 51 pole top fires were reported by 11.30am on Tuesday.

Suburbs impacted include Girrawheen, Beechboro, Hocking, Balcatta, The Vines, Balga, Caversham, Wanneroo, Kelmscott and Duncraig among others.

Traffic lights were also out in several suburbs on Tuesday morning.

A Western Power spokesperson said the outages were caused by “power pole damage due to light, drizzly weather causing pole top fires.”

“Pole top fires can occur during light drizzling rain or misty damp conditions when a combination of recent dust and pollution builds up to creates paths or ‘tracks’ on the insulators, enabling electricity to jump across,” the spokesperson said.

“This tracking electricity can heat elements of the pole infrastructure to a point where they smoulder and burn.”

Western Power is warning it may take some time for power to be restored to some homes, with each pole change expected to take between four and eight hours depending on the type of pole.

“Due to the high level of fault activity some customers may be without power for an extended period of time,” a spokesperson said.

“As such, current restoration times are estimated based on similar events, the number of customers affected, and distance crews will travel.

“They will be updated as our crews assess damage and repairs required. The current estimated restoration time is 6pm today. Please check the website for updated restoration times.”

As of 11.30am, more than 4000 people were without power in Koondoola, Girrawheen and Balga, another 4000 in Beechboro, Caversham and Morley and more than 3000 in Woodvale, Craigie, Kingsley and Padbury.

Thousands are also without power in Cockburn Central, Beeliar, Success and other parts of Perth.

Several firefighters are responding and commuters are urged to be vigilant of emergency services.

On Tuesday morning. Main Street in Osborne Park had been closed in both directions as a result of the power outage.

Traffic lights were out at the Altone and Benara Roads intersection in Beechboro and on Malaga Drive near Reid Highway.

Western Power said its maintenance team was “constantly improving” the way 860,000 power poles across the network were managed.

“We have a comprehensive poles and wires maintenance program and a preventative program which includes ‘de-energised’ siliconing and washing, insulator replacements, and managing trees and vegetation near wires, and high-pressure cleaning of insulators,” they said.