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  • May 2023 Wildfire Supplement

    • May 2023 Wildfire Supplement

    Wildfire Mitigation
    Photo by Corteva.
    Conducting regular inspections is an effective way for vegetation managers to prioritize treatment sites from one year to the next.
    Wildfire

    Four Essentials To Wildfire Mitigation Programs

    July 17, 2023
    Investing time and resources in these four practices can significantly impact wildfire mitigation programs for electric utilities across the country.
    Photo by Theresa Peterson, Dreamstime.
    A wildfire sparked by a substation destroyed some $12 million in agricultural products near Dufur, Oregon in three days.
    Wildfire

    The Threat of Fires Widens, as Should Industry’s Response

    July 17, 2023
    In applying old and new fire prevention tactics, utilities are learning to become better stewards of their service territories and of public safety at large.
    Photo by Salt River Project.
    Salt River Project hires contractors to help strategically remove plants, parts of trees and other vegetation growing close to transmission lines. The effort is done in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management as well as state and private land between the forests where brush must be cleared.
    Wildfire

    Why Salt River Project Invests in Forest Partnerships

    April 21, 2023
    Thinning the forest not only helps with power and water reliability, it also offers the added benefit of providing rural jobs, increasing infrastructure and equipment investments...
    panaramka-iStock/Getty Images Plus
    It is not uncommon for utilities to face billions of dollars in wildfire costs, including damage to infrastructure and resources needed for restoration.
    Disaster Response

    Real-World Wildfire Mitigation From Space

    April 17, 2023
    Rural electric cooperative replaces inefficient, manual systems with intelligent vegetation management system to manage wildfire threats.
    Photo by ACRT.
    In early America, fire was a tool that promoted ecological diversity and reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
    Vegetation Management

    Old Practices Are New Again: TEK And Cultural Burning

    April 13, 2023
    Fire is being used as a vegetation management tool to promote ecological diversity and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

    More content from May 2023 Wildfire Supplement

    Photo by SDG&E.
    SDG&E sought approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to use drones for multiple use cases, including assessments. It was one of the first utilities to receive approval in 2014.
    Wildfire

    SDG&E Expands Drone Program to Detect Damage

    April 12, 2023
    The utility takes the use of drones for preventive assessments further by automatically detecting damaged assets from drone-captured images.
    Photo by Portland General Electric.
    Utility workers install a new pole in a forested area of the PGE service territory.
    Wildfire

    Portland General Electric Deploys AI, Advanced Tech to Reduce Wildfire Risk

    April 11, 2023
    The Pacific Northwest utility is advancing its wildfire mitigation plan by hardening the grid and enhancing situational awareness with detection systems.
    Graphic by SMUD.
    Loon Lake Union Valley easements.
    Vegetation Management

    Lower Risk Of Wildfires Along T&D Systems Long Term

    April 10, 2023
    To achieve the lowest level of risk, some utilities like Sacramento Municipal Utility District are embracing the practice of managing vegetation to tree height.
    iStock/Gett Images Plus
    Wildfire sweeps the mountainside, crossing metal transmission towers.
    Wildfire

    How To Select Pole Material With Wildfires In Mind

    April 6, 2023
    Xcel Energy, SDG&E and the Snohomish County PUD share insights on fire hardening and their wildfire protection plans.