Fire on the top of a Power Pole

This was a fire that started on top of a Power pole. The fire caused a small brush fire around the bottom of the pole.

I am told that these kind of fires are very rare. I was also told that pole top fires can be caused by dust on overhead power line insulators, in combination with light rain and high humidity. This can result in a high level of leakage current across the insulators. The leakage of currents can generate enough heat to ignite the wood at the point of contact between wood and metal surfaces and start a pole top fire.

The Fire was extinguished and the pole was cut just below the fire and the insulators were replaced.