Video shows dangerous fire attack near downed power lines in Riverbank

Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District on Friday posted a video of an early morning fire in which downed power lines caused dangerous sparks near a structure fire in Riverbank.

The fire started in a shed in an alley at Sixth and Sierra streets and spread to a home behind it early Thursday morning.

The bright blue flashes seen in the video next to the orange flames are arcing power lines, according to Stanislaus Consolidated.

The fire caused the live power lines to drop and also burned through the gas meter of the adjacent home, causing a natural gas leak that fueled the flames, according to Captain Buck Condit.

Firefighters battled the blaze, keeping a safe distance from the power lines. Condit said it took about 30 minutes to get the fire under control and another 15 minutes to get the power turned off.

Two adults who lived in the affected home were displaced. The fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damage; the cause remains under investigation.

“(It was a) very dangerous situation for our firefighters ... good situational awareness and following safety requirements prevented injuries,” reads a post on the fire district’s Facebook page.

This story was originally published July 24, 2015 at 6:22 PM with the headline "Video shows dangerous fire attack near downed power lines in Riverbank."