TERRORISM Police and FBI investigate power poles cut with chainsaw in Snohomish County

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB

'Very dangerous': Police and FBI investigate power poles cut with chainsaw in Snohomish County



LYNNWOOD, Wash. — Several power poles in Snohomish County have been vandalized with a chainsaw. Now local authorities and the FBI are searching for a suspect and motive.

It started in the middle of the night last Wednesday with a power outage reported near Maple Road and Butternut Road, just outside Lynnwood city limits.

Snohomish County PUD crews quickly discovered it was no run-of-the-mill call.

"It appeared as though the power pole that had fallen had been cut," said PUD spokesman Cayle Thompson. "That was a first for us. That's not something we see very often. That's not something we see at all."

Someone had cut through the pole with a chainsaw, leaving it dangling from high voltage wires overhead, near a substation and in the middle of a neighborhood.

Lynnwood Police Commander Sean Doty said that case is especially unsettling considering the lines carry more than 12,000 volts. They are so powerful, you wouldn't even have to touch them to get electrocuted.

"That could've been a fatal situation for whoever was standing nearby," said Doty. "Just due to the proximity to the substation that's there and the current they're carrying. Very dangerous."

As if that weren't enough, it appears the same person tried to cut down four more poles between the popular Interurban Trail and I-5 near the Alderwood Mall.

"It doesn't take a lot of imagination to understand how dangerous this could've been if those poles had actually come down," said the PUD's Thompson.

Both police and the PUD are increasing patrols along the power lines.

Doty said he is especially concerned because this doesn't appear to be the work of a random vandal.

"It's scary," he said. "The determination that was shown, first being successful one day and then coming back and trying four more, that says to me it's more than just kids vandalizing. It's more serious."

Because of the potential for serious injury and the fact that someone is tampering with the public power supply, the FBI is now assisting in the investigation.

Lynnwood police have no suspects at this point and are still searching for a motive.

"That's being explored," said Doty. "We don't know yet. It could be somebody with a grudge. It could be something else. We just don't know."

Anyone with information should call Lynnwood police at 425-670-5600.
 

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I can see the commies applying this tactic in areas where there isn't a fire danger.

Most important thing to note here...

:siren: They are now targeting infrastructure. :siren:


This a major turning point.


Why only in areas where there isn't a fire danger?
 

Paladin1

"In Omnia Paratus" is more than just a phrase
I can see the commies applying this tactic in areas where there isn't a fire danger.

Most important thing to note here...

:siren: They are now targeting infrastructure. :siren:


This a major turning point.
Who ever did this, I suspect we'll find them eventually under a collapsed line. They cut five but only got one to come down? Yeah, they don't understand what they're doing.

Either they'll adapt and get more proficient or, more likely, they'll slip up and cut something while they're standing in the bite and we'll find the body later.

Aerial plant isn't forgiving to idiots. There's too much potential energy stored up that people have no idea about, even ignoring the primary and/or secondary at the top.
 

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Serious question, not debunking. Do those battery operated saws has enough ass to cut through a electric pole? I've never used one and always assumed they were only suited to smallish branches.
I bought some of those Milwaukee axe sawzall blades by recommendation of someone here for cutting up some downed trees near my beehives.
5tpi ate right through pole sizes trees.
 

Paladin1

"In Omnia Paratus" is more than just a phrase
Serious question, not debunking. Do those battery operated saws has enough ass to cut through a electric pole? I've never used one and always assumed they were only suited to smallish branches.
If it's a Class 5 pole or smaller, sure. It'll wear it out, but it can be done.

If it's a Class 3 or larger? No way, especially if they're trying to cut a Naptha treated pole. Those things bog down even hydraulic chainsaws if you're not careful.
 

Redneck Norseman

Contributing Member
Serious question, not debunking. Do those battery operated saws has enough ass to cut through a electric pole? I've never used one and always assumed they were only suited to smallish branches.
The DeWalt 20V I have with a 12" bar can take one down in about 45 seconds. I use old electric poles purchased from my electric co-op for gate posts and have zero issues ripping through them with it. :)
 

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
I've got a Stihl 290 and a 660, just can't break my old habits

I was running a 20" Echo up in a basket.

A lighter electric saw sure was appealing, right about then,

50003028162_f85d25043d_c.jpg
 

Paladin1

"In Omnia Paratus" is more than just a phrase
The DeWalt 20V I have with a 12" bar can take one down in about 45 seconds. I use old electric poles purchased from my electric co-op for gate posts and have zero issues ripping through them with it. :)
Cutting one while it's not under pressure is one thing, especially if it's small enough for a 12" bar to get through.

If it's still under line tension, like these should be, hasn't dried out and still has it's treatment, and are Class 3 or larger? Yeah, that's not going to work. Best case scenario is that you get your bar caught. Worst case? They find your body later.
 

night driver

ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
THUS why you START with your damn pie cut...

AND make it big enough.

Buddy was taking down an elm with an interesting growth shape and about 20" across, and 40+ foot tall. He started with his pie cut but dang near lost the saw going for the main cut.
Took another saw and 3 splitting wedges to get it out, and THAT was a near thing.

We talked it over to start and I was "Are ya SURE?" when he said I'm doing it this way. His saws, his business, I'm just the scaredy-cat safety dufus along for the pocket change.
Once we freed up all the wedges and the 2 saws he looked at me and said "You were right. You gotta be a BIT more forceful, so you don't get to use MY line...' I TOLD you so!'"
 
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LoupGarou

Ancient Fuzzball
Serious question, not debunking. Do those battery operated saws has enough ass to cut through a electric pole? I've never used one and always assumed they were only suited to smallish branches.

My Ryobi ones work fine all day long on four battery packs. Two on charge, one in use, one sitting ready. And while they came with a 14" bar, they work fine with a 18" one. I have had no problem with them taking down trees just smaller than the bar's length (and a few that were larger). And since they are quieter, it allows you to "hear the tree talking" a lot better as well.

Loup (Who sees every tree near my antenna farm as Leafy Green RF attenuators)
 

Redneck Norseman

Contributing Member
Cutting one while it's not under pressure is one thing, especially if it's small enough for a 12" bar to get through.

If it's still under line tension, like these should be, hasn't dried out and still has it's treatment, and are Class 3 or larger? Yeah, that's not going to work. Best case scenario is that you get your bar caught. Worst case? They find your body later.
Agreed. Just pointing out that newer B/O saws are extremely quiet, comparatively.
 

INVAR

Sword At-The-Ready
:siren: They are now targeting infrastructure. :siren:


This a major turning point.

^^^^ THIS!!!!!

Coupled with reports of armed ANTIFA thugs in running gun battles with armed citizens catching them setting fires - and it is clear - Civil War has begun now in earnest.

The chaos and terrorism will continue until their demands to govern and replace police and other leadership positions are surrendered to, out of the desperate desire of the populace to 'go back to normal' at any cost.

Including their liberty.
 

ChickenLittle

Contributing Member
There was an incident several years ago where someone tried to take down the big 500kva transmission line towers. He removed several of the bolts at the base and then tied a big cable from the tower to a tree on the other side of the train track with the idea the train would take it down. Railroad discovered the cable before the train came through and thwarted the plan.
 

mechanic 217

I was told there would be cookies!
Remember they really don't have to cut them down, just weaken several in a row before a big storm ,then go home and wait for it.
 

mzkitty

I give up.
Now read post #2088 on the Portland thread:

 

night driver

ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
Wife's company, Foundation Electric (subsidiary of Bross and Buffalo Construction) built the towers holding the 765 KV line from Seaway to Marcy NY through some REAL interesting rough country. Y'all h'ain't LIVED until you stand at the base of one of THOSE MFrs and listened to the cables and the breeze sing!
 

Redneck Norseman

Contributing Member
I'm just glad the idiot that did this doesn't have the first clue about how to disable sub-stations. They could've created one hell of a lot problems if they did.

Acquiring electrical repair parts is hit and miss in the best times, throw in the "global pandemic" and it's nigh impossible. Most components are made outside CONUS. Tried to find any breakers in bulk lately?
 

Publius

TB Fanatic
They want to cause problems, they could do more long term damage by destroying a substation or two with napalm or rifle with heavy monolith bullets. I would say by using a .50 caliber but they out of the price range of many.
 
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Musbradny

Inactive
I can see the commies applying this tactic in areas where there isn't a fire danger.

Most important thing to note here...

:siren: They are now targeting infrastructure. :siren:


This a major turning point.

This! Also, there are rumors about arsonists setting fires around Clackamus(sp?) county Oregon.
 
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