Evaluation of the thermal stresses and dielectric phenomena in the investigation of the causes of wildfires involving distribution power lines

In this paper, the thermal stresses and dielectric phenomena of a distribution power line are evaluated to ascertain whether the line was the cause or the victim of a wildfire. Thermal stresses, to which distribution overhead lines are subjected due to line current, short circuits, or wildfires, are calculated. Furthermore, the various dielectric phenomena of distribution lines are presented, and their ability to start wildfires is examined. Moreover, experiments concerning the aspects of wildfire forensics were undertaken. During these experiments, the ability of ejected incandescent aluminium molten particles to cause a wildfire was investigated. Finally, a case study of a real incident, in which a medium voltage overhead line was blamed for a wildfire, is examined. The aim of this work is to assist in the formation of guidelines that can be used in investigations of causes of wildfires involving distribution power lines.