When it gets too cold, Central Maine Power linemen skip routine maintenance and stick indoors.

This week’s record-breaking temps? Not too cold for them. 

“My grandmother would have said they are from hardy stock,” CMP spokeswoman Gail Rice said. 

Third-generation tow truck driver David Walter stayed out towing in Lewiston, in a baseball cap — with a spare knit hat for emergencies.

Lucas Tree crews were out around the state, up in cherry pickers, trimming trees.

“It’s kind of funny; I was out with a crew this morning (and) 18 degrees feels warm when the day before was 24 below zero,” said Gerry Breton, safety director for Lucas’ U.S. and Canadian operations.

After Wednesday’s relative reprieve, below-normal temps are forecast — yet again — and are expected to stick around for the rest of the month.

Those who work in the frigid outdoors said they follow a few basic tenets: Keep moving but not too much. Pack an extra layer. Stay hydrated.

And keeping a sense of humor doesn’t hurt. 

“I do two cups of coffee in the morning and water during the day and also Pepsi,” Walter at Anytime Towing said. “You can quote me on that: I like Pepsi.” 

With the CMP contract to manage vegetation along distribution and transmission lines, Lucas crews are outside 12 months a year. Cold weather prep has been the topic of several Monday morning safety talks, Breton said.

He has coached basics like having two pairs of gloves, one to wear and one to warm up in the cab. Don’t wear cotton as a base layer because “cotton actually retains moisture,” he said.

Take frequent breaks to avoid frostbite and don’t work too hard — you don’t want to sweat.

“When you’re in three or four layers, it’s difficult to have that perspiration not affect you in a negative way,” Breton said. “It is a challenge. When it’s 25 below zero, there’s not a lot of productivity and that’s OK because we want to make sure they’re staying warm.”

Rice said line workers use the same common-sense tactics.

“Many will wear glove liners and use hand and toe warmers to ward off the cold,” she said. “You will also see them wearing winter hats or balaclavas under their hard hats.”

U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Melissa Lohnes said USPS is always talking to postal carriers about how to avoid hypothermia and frostbite by using posters, conventional talks and multimedia, including messages that pop up on hand-held scanners.

Chris Legro, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Gray, said the average temperature for this time of year in Portland is a high of 37 degrees and a low of 19.

Tuesday’s record low of 11 degrees below zero shouldn’t return for the rest of the week, but single-digit lows are expected.

“To end the month, it looks like we’re going to be back into the deep freeze,” Legro said. 

Walter, who specializes in off-road tows, said he had responded the past few days to a mix of cars stuck in snow, battery jumps, lockouts and regular garage tows. His most unconventional call of the season came at the start of winter: a Sabattus man had lost his dump truck in a pond in his yard, and the truck was completely underwater. 

Walter hired a diver to help.

“The diver that I use actually has experience in tow truck driving so he does know where to hook,” he said.

kskelton@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link