National 8-1-1 Day: Have Utilities Marked Before You Dig by Calling 8-1-1
Friday, August 11, 2017
LAFD Spokesperson: Brian Humphrey
National 8-1-1 Day Raises Public Awareness of the Importance of Having Utilities Marked Before Digging!
In recognition of August 11th being National 8-1-1 Day, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and Los Angeles Fire Department officials gathered to unveil a 30-foot tall shovel in Woodland HIlls today.
The giant shovel, one of the largest in the nation, will be displayed in various locations around SoCalGas' service territory as a strong public reminder of the dangers of hitting utility lines when digging, and of the need to call 8-1-1 to have utility lines marked before any home or commercial digging project.
“We want to bring attention to 8-1-1 to increase public safety,” said Trevor Richmond, Los Angeles Fire Department Deputy Chief, Valley Bureau. “Pipelines can be located anywhere—under streets, sidewalks and private property—sometimes just inches below the surface. And hitting one while digging, planting or doing demolition work can not only cause property damage and loss of utility service, it can cause serious injury.”
Earlier this summer two SoCalGas employees quickly notified and evacuated a Woodland Hills couple at their home after a contractor damaged a natural gas pipeline on their property. It was these quick actions that saved their lives from the explosion and fire that quickly followed. It was an incident that might have been prevented.
Officials emphasize that the free call to 8-1-1 works anywhere in North America, and is important for both homeowners and contractors, as the danger of striking underground utilities can as easily exist in the family garden as at a large scale excavation.
To learn more about 8-1-1 visit: Call811.com
