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uk Home & property emergencies power line down on property • fallen power line at home • downed electricity line outside house • cable on garden or driveway • overhead line on fence • wire on roof or shed • power cable sparking outside • electricity line brought down by storm • live wire near house • power line near window • power line on car on drive • tree on power line in garden • power cut and fallen line • keep kids inside power line • report fallen line 105 • scared to go outside power line • possible live cable outside • fallen wire not sure what it is

What to do if…
a power line appears to have fallen onto your property and you are safely inside

Short answer

Stay inside and treat the line as live. Keep everyone away from the affected side of the home and report it immediately by calling 105 (England/Scotland/Wales) or 03457 643 643 (Northern Ireland) — or 999 if there’s immediate danger.

Do not do these things

  • Do not go outside to “check it”, even if it looks quiet or not sparking.
  • Do not touch anything outside that could be energised (fences, gates, sheds, metal railings, puddles, hoses).
  • Do not try to move branches, a pole, or the cable with any object.
  • Do not open the door closest to the line or stand in open doorways/windows to look.
  • Do not assume it’s “just a telecoms wire” — treat any fallen wire as dangerous.
  • Do not let children or pets near doors leading outside “for a quick look”.

What to do now

  1. Keep people and pets inside. Move everyone into an internal room away from the side of the property where the line is, and keep them there.
  2. Stay back from windows and doors near the line. If curtains/blinds are open, close them from a safe distance.
  3. Report it to the electricity network operator:
    • Call 105 (free) in England, Scotland and Wales, or
    • Call 03457 643 643 in Northern Ireland.
      Say:
    • you believe an overhead power line is down on your property
    • your full address and best access point for crews
    • whether anything is touching the line (tree, fence, roof, car)
    • whether you can see sparks, smoke, or hear buzzing/crackling
  4. If there is immediate danger, call 999. Examples: the line is arcing/sparking, a fire has started, someone is at risk of touching it, or it’s blocking a public path and people are approaching.
  5. Stop anyone else going outside. If you can do so safely, put a note on the inside of the main exit (“DO NOT GO OUT — POWER LINE DOWN”) and message household members/nearby neighbours to keep away (do not ask them to investigate).
  6. Only if you must leave due to a separate immediate danger (fire/smoke inside):
    • Leave by an exit furthest from the fallen line.
    • Once outside, keep well away from the wire and anything it touches — at least 10 metres if you can, and more if possible.
    • Wait for emergency services at a safe distance.

What can wait

  • You do not need to identify which company supplies your electricity.
  • You do not need to take photos, move anything, or start clearing storm debris.
  • You do not need to decide about repairs, insurance, or accommodation until the network operator says it’s safe.

Important reassurance

It’s normal to feel frozen or unsure because the danger isn’t always visible. Staying indoors and keeping distance is a safe, sensible response — electricity lines can remain live even when they look “dead”.

Scope note

This guide covers first steps while you are safely inside. Once crews attend, follow their instructions about access, isolation of power, and when it’s safe to go outside.

Important note

This is general safety information, not professional advice. If at any point you believe there is immediate risk to life or a fire, call 999.

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