How do I (SAFELY) find out if a downed power line is active or not?

[jburgman]

How do I (SAFELY) find out if a downed power line is active or not?

[mesarich]

Pee on it, lol, that was a joke, the best way would be to call the power company and let them decide.

[AndersonIN]

YOU cannot! As a prior LEO and utility company worker I'd advise NOT TO EVEN TOUCH LINES THAT YOU KNOW ARE NOT POWER LINES!!!! I can send you or you can search on line for a fireman that was KILLED when a little old lady called about a line down in her yard from a storm! The fireman just wanted to be kind and move the KNOWN TV CABLE WIRE from her yard. What he didn't know was that a power line was down over the top of the cable a block a way and killed him instantly! Do not touch!