Rochester, Washington, looking west from the center of down-town. Rochester, Washington, looking east from the center of down-town. NOTE: This website is undergoing many changes - its size has gotten way too large to easily manage. If you encounter a link that no longer works it may be that I have accidentally removed the page/picture the link points to.
Without seeing the extent of the damage, it's impossible to say if the damage might cause a short/start a fire, or pose a shock hazard, or both; you could be seriously injured or killed. There are suggestions to tape the wire with electrical tape. This can be done, but be extremely careful.
Common causes of electrical fires and the best preventive measures. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), during 2011, 364,500 fires were reported which caused 2,450 deaths, 13,900 injuries, and more than $6 billion in property damages.