Underground Hazards
Beneath the built environment lies a hidden maze of wires, pipes, and now, fiber optic cables. Even here in the northwoods, in our sparsely populated and natural surroundings, they run below the surface, working to serve our needs. We rarely give this critical infrastructure a second thought—until it’s time to dig. Then, the ground becomes a minefield of hidden hazards.
Fortunately, that’s where Diggers Hotline comes in. By law, you must dial 811 before starting any digging project. This free service sends utility providers to mark the underground lines in your area, keeping you safe from hidden hazards and preventing costly damage and service interruptions.
"Call Before You Dig"
Diggers Hotline/811 is a free service you should always use before starting your own yard projects, but for your 8th Fire Communications fiber installation, we handle it for you. We’ll make sure public utilities on your property are clearly marked before construction begins, and our team takes every precaution to protect them, so you can feel confident your installation will be safe, smooth, and worry-free. ***(See note below)
Unfortunately, the key word in that last sentence is "Public".
There are many other important private utilities that lie just below the ground
that will NOT be marked by the Diggers Hotline/811 service.
Private utilities include things such as:
- Private electrical services (For example: power lines to detached garages, boathouses, sheds, or yard lights)
- Fresh water pipes from wells to structures
- Septic systems and the pipes that feed into them
- Sprinkler systems
- Etc.
All privately owned underground infrastructure
is the responsibility of the property owner
to locate and mark to prevent potential damage.
Division of Responsibility
| Example Utility Type | Public or Private | Responsible for Locating |
|---|---|---|
| Power Line near road | Public | Diggers Hotline/811 |
| Telephone line | Public | Diggers Hotline/811 |
| Fiber Optic cables | Public | Diggers Hotline/811 |
| Power line from house to detached garage | Private | Property Owner/Private Locating Service |
| Propane Tank line to Home | Private | Property Owner/Private Locating Service |
| Water line from well to Home | Private | Property Owner/Private Locating Service |
| Septic system and associated pipes | Private | Property Owner/Private Locating Service |
Local Private Utility Locating Services
We would like to help you find a Private Utility Locating Service.
You can always use the Internet search engine of your choice to find one of the many large firms that provide utility locating services throughout our region or even nationwide. (For example: USIC, GPRS, etc.) If you would prefer to support a small business or just one with a more local connection, please see below for some local options:
B&M Utility Services
Phone: (715) 837-1741
Address: 2124 5th Ave, Chetek, WI 54728
Bulldog Private Locating
Contact: Chris Hintz
Phone: (920) 450-5578
Can You Dig It, LLC
Contact: Jim and Marina Olson
Phone: (715) 966-9517
Email: canyoudigit@myyahoo.com
Disclaimer:
8th Fire Communications will not supervise or monitor a referred professional's performance of services for you in any manner. We assume no responsibility for a referred professional's work product. You are responsible for evaluating, selecting, and retaining any professional and determining whether their services will meet your needs. You acknowledge that there is always a risk that a referred professional will act negligently or fraudulently and agree to hold us harmless in that event.
*** Please note: A public utility in our area has not been consistently marking its lines on time, which has directly resulted in damage to its own infrastructure. When we encounter a construction site with unmarked utilities we go out of our way to do our best to locate their cables for them to try and prevent such damage, but our capabilities in that regard are limited. Ultimately, if a provider fails to locate and mark their cables it is their responsibility for any damages that occur.