Verizon vs. the Needham Fire Department

netbuzz writes "At issue is whether — or not — there was a minor fire in a house on Pine Grove Street in Needham, Mass., caused by a Verizon employee drilling through an electrical main. Everyone agrees that whatever happened — or didn't happen — was indeed the fault of the Verizon employee; it's "fire or no fire" that is at issue. Verizon says no fire, not even smoke. The Needham Fire Department begs to differ. New eye-witness reports are emerging ... and it's not looking good for Verizon."

Comments

Fire not important

[MichaelSmith]

So there may or may not have been a fire but the tech definitely drilled through a mains cable. Don't they carry instruments for that? Something which picks up 60Hz AC?

In any event it should be SOP to drill a shallow hole at first and check the cavity for cables before drilling further. Thats how I would do it anyway.