Wildfire safety practices

Operating an electricity system safely in areas prone to wildfires requires that we take extra precautions. Wildfire safety practices are the actions we take to help prevent wildfires and protect people and communities. We do this work year-round, which may include temporary power outages as a safety measure when necessary.

Actions we take year-round

We take safety actions throughout the year to reduce wildfire risk and keep communities safe.

  • Design and construction. We regularly upgrade power lines, poles and other equipment to strengthen our system and reduce wildfire risk.
  • Tree and vegetation maintenance. We do inspections and clear trees and other plants away from our electricity system to keep branches from falling on or touching our power lines.
  • Wildfire preparedness training. Our field employees receive specialized training so they can work safely and respond to wildfire threats.
  • Wildfire risk monitoring. We use interactive tools to help assess wildfire risks around our electricity infrastructure to support safer, faster decision making.
  • Enhanced power line safety settings. When wildfire risk is high, we adjust equipment settings so power can be turned off quickly if a problem is ever detected.
  • Support during active wildfires. We work with local fire authorities to support firefighting efforts. When possible, we maintain power to critical infrastructure like water systems and we may also use fire suppressants or fire blankets to protect our equipment.
  • Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) policy. When weather and wildfire risk are extreme, we may temporarily shut off power on specific power lines in high-risk areas to keep communities safe and prevent wildfires from starting.

How can you prepare for power outages?

You can prepare for a power outage by having a plan, keeping emergency supplies ready and knowing how to safely use backup equipment. Preparing ahead of time helps you stay safe and make outages easier to manage.

Learn more about how to prepare your home, protect your appliances and stay safe during an outage on our power outages page.