Utility Workers Saw Line Burning Before Blackout

FirstEnergy Corp. announced that, just before the recent blackout, its tree trimmers saw a transmission line smoke and burn in the Cleveland suburb of Walton Hills. The line apparently sagged into and contacted a tree.

The 345 kilovolt line is the latest culprit in the search for the triggering event of the worst blackout in American History. Cambridge Energy Research Associates, an energy consulting firm, said the line failure started a cascade of events leading to the blackout.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer has the whole story. Go visit.