Question

dead load is attached to wires initially

Answer 1

A request mark on brain list
Article and photos by Gregory Havel

Since we participated in our Basic Firefighter or Firefighter I class, we have been told repeatedly that at an incident, we must be aware of and avoid overhead hazards. The most commonly used example is overhead wires: electric, telephone, cable TV, and other wires as well as the overhead service drops from these lines to buildings. In addition to obstructing ladder, aerial ladder, and hoseline evolutions, these also present the potential for electric shock or electrocution of firefighters. 

These overhead wires can be considered a part of the dead load supported by the line of poles to which they are permanently attached. The service drops from a pole to a building are also part of the dead load supported by the building.

There are other dead loads (supported by and permanently attached to the structure) that each firefighter needs to note during size-up and to work around during performance of their assigned tasks.