Posted on 07/26/2005 4:32:35 AM PDT by bookworm100
Four Boy Scout leaders were killed in Virginia on Monday, the opening day of the organization's national Jamboree, when a metal tent pole they were holding hit a power line and apparently ignited the canvas tent above them, according to Scout officials and witnesses.
Officials late Monday confirmed the leaders who died are Ron Bitzer, Michael Lacroix and Michael Shibe of Anchorage and Scott Powell, who moved to Ohio last year.
A fifth Alaska Scout leader, Larry Call, and an unidentified contractor were hospitalized with injuries, according to Boy Scout officials. Call is being treated at a Virginia hospital burn unit, said his wife, Paula Call...
"They all started screaming," Holfeld said. "He said, 'Oh my God, oh my God, the tent is on fire, they're being burned!' And she told him to stay away, to not touch anything, because there could be a live wire."
Paula Call spoke to her husband and others after the cident. The group of men was erecting a large tent, like a circus tent, she said. She didn't know what it was for.
"As they got it up, this pole started to lean and it touched a utility live wire," Paula Call said...
The tent has a large metal pole as its center support and also poles at its corners. Men were reportedly holding on to those, Paula Call said.
It's unclear how the pole came in contact with the wire.
"They either hit the power line with the pole, or a truck went by and knocked the pole over," Holfeld said. "Either way, the pole hit the power line, electrocuted them, set the tent on fire, the tent fell on them, and they were trapped underneath," with Scouts watching...
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
Geez....You can see from the pictures that they simply didn't think about it. The wires are right there. Sad!!
Sad ping for fellow Alaskans...
I was a Scout. Whatever happened to "Be Prepared?"
Tongue-clicking aside, prayers for the family. What a tragic accident.
It's a tragic accident. Some FReepers will crucify the victims for their mistake.
Update ping.
It isn't the victims at all. I would think the organizers carry the majority of the burden for the accident. Power lines running 15 ft over a campgrownd are an accident waiting to happen.
If you are inside a tent under erection, you cannot see what is above you. Yes you should have looked before you erected the tent and for all we know they did look. Had the pole been fiberglass, they would not have had a problem, which is why commercial grade ladders are made of the stuff.
Always always look in the direction you are raising something so you are not even within range of danger, should the unforseen happen. My reaction was to immediately question why overhead power lines were in the vicinity of a campground, and not buried.
Local radio said A.P. Hill is closed today for a safety review. Not sure what that means for the scouts who are there.
The Scouts have had a very tragic summer. Prayers for them all.
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