a wire went down on our street very late at night...it burned for quite some time until the power company could get there to cut the power...we had some fun as neighbors out in the dark (not trying to make light of a very serious situation). I have posted a photo of the resulting molten glass-like substance that was left behind. I am guessing it was the wire's insulating material. http://365project.org/jackies365/365/2016-08-30
