News
26 January, 2025
More power poles made fire-safe
Energex and Ergon Energy Network have installed fireproof mesh on another 2000 power poles in bushfire zones across Queensland, after a successful statewide trial.
South east Queenslanders have begun seeing these bushfire-wrapped poles from the Sunshine Coast to the New South Wales border and out to the Toowoomba foothills.
After proving to be a game changer for electricity network resilience during wildfires in Canada and North America, Network Manager Keegan Oliver said the innovative product, called FireMesh, had passed its first test in Queensland with flying colours.
“One of our key trial sites, where a bushfire recently burnt through, there was no damage to the 19 poles we had wrapped with FireMesh, and we were able to get the power back on to nearly 2000 properties in the area much sooner as a result,” he said.
“When the FireMesh installed at the base of the power pole senses heat, it activates and swells up to form a fireproof blanket around the pole.”
Property owners can do their bit to reduce the risk of damage from fires by leaving a five-metre buffer around the base of any power pole.
