BPA lineworkers receive Civilian Hero Award from Mountain View Fire and Rescue

BPA lineworkers receive Civilian Hero Award from Mountain View Fire and Rescue

November 08, 2024

Two BPA lineworkers recently took quick and decisive actions that saved lives and prevented damage to power lines during a brush fire near Auburn, Washington.

In carrying out its public responsibilities, the Bonneville Power Administration is guided by its core values: safety, trustworthy stewardship, collaborative relationships and operational excellence. Two heroic BPA lineworkers, Zachariah Butler and Travis Asling, recently embodied the agency's four values when their quick and decisive actions saved lives and prevented damage to powerlines during a brush fire near BPA's Covington District Office.

For their actions, they both received the Civilian Hero Award from Mountain View Fire and Rescue based out of Auburn, Washington. Dustin Trout, Mountain View Fire and Rescue deputy chief, presented the awards to Butler and Asling on Sept. 24, and said it was an honor to present this prestigious recognition.

"The Civilian Hero Award is not given out many times at all in the department's history," said Trout. "These two individuals did a great thing not only for our firefighters, but for the other civilians in the area and the community as a whole, so it's greatly deserved."

Asling and Butler were completing a field training near the Covington District Office on Aug. 5, when Asling noticed heavy smoke in the transmission corridor around 3 p.m. Believing the smoke was rising from underneath a BPA transmission line, Asling sprang into action, enlisting Butler and the rest of the transmission line maintenance crew to investigate further.

When they arrived at the scene, they found a brush fire blazing directly underneath transmission lines. Butler decided on the spot to de-energize the entire transmission corridor for the safety of all of those in the area, including incoming firefighters from Mountain View Fire and Rescue and members of the public. The team called BPA's control center almost immediately after discovering the fire, and an emergency clearance was issued to allow de-energization.

The crew also began opening BPA access points to ensure a clear path for the fire department, allowing them to reach the fire and extinguish it without needing to pull firehoses over great distances.

Deputy Chief Trout and Fire Chief Dawn Judkins said that Asling's and Butler's courageous and decisive actions, along with those of the entire Covington Transmission Line Maintenance team, prevented significant property damage to the surrounding neighborhood and may have prevented human casualties. Their heroism also protected BPA's nearby transmission lines, as well as the surrounding community in which many BPA employees live and work. Butler and Asling now recall the incident with gratitude and humor.

"We were just very lucky to be in the right place at the right time," Asling said. "It did feel good to be recognized and be able to tell all my firefighter friends that I've helped to put out more wildland fires than them."

"Even firefighters need heroes," Butler added. "I'm glad I could oblige."

The fire was determined not to be caused by a BPA transmission line.

Tags