That oak removal near the power lines at Grant Park changed my whole approach

Last Tuesday I was helping take down a big red oak at Grant Park in downtown Phoenix. The homeowner wanted it gone because roots were cracking their driveway, but nobody checked for the underground fiber line running right under the drop zone. My bucket truck barely missed it by 2 feet when we set the rigging. Now I call 811 every single time before I even unload the chipper, even for small jobs. Has anyone else had close calls with buried utilities on residential lots?

2 comments

2 Comments

sarahpatel1d ago

Skip the homeowner side, call 811 is for pros too.

aliceg611d ago

Honestly yeah, @sarahpatel has a point. I called 811 once because I figured better safe than sorry and the lady on the phone asked me if I was digging a hole for a mailbox. I said no, I'm just trying to hang a bird feeder pole. She laughed and said they get calls for all sorts. So even if you're not a pro, they don't care who you are. They just want to know where the lines are.