SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Even though the drought emergency is over, the damage has already been
done. The drought and bark beetle infestation have killed more than 100
million trees in California, and U.S. Forest Service scientists
expect elevated levels of tree mortality to continue into this year in
some areas. That’s why Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is
working with local Fire Safe Councils, providing nearly $2 million in
project funding to reduce the threat of wildfires.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers, employees
and the communities we serve. While most California counties received
significant rainfall this winter, the tree mortality crisis will linger
for years. And, as the Governor points out, the next drought could be
around the corner. That is why we’re taking extraordinary measures to
protect our electric infrastructure, and help local Fire Safe Councils
dedicated to making communities more fire safe,” said Kevin Dasso, PG&E
vice president of Electric Asset Management.
This year, PG&E will be funding 43 local Fire Safe Council and other
501(c)3 projects in 21 counties. Projects include fuel reduction, shaded
fuel breaks, emergency access and chipping programs. This is the fourth
consecutive year PG&E has funded local Fire Safe Council projects to
help residents protect their homes, communities and the environment from
wildfire. Many are focused on creating fuel breaks and emergency access
to help CAL FIRE and local fire departments safely fight wildfires when
they do occur.
"The drought in California has been declared over, but the ongoing
threat of wildfires due to hot weather and rapid brush growth from the
heavy rains, is now facing many communities in the state. The California
Fire Safe Council (CFSC) is a leader in encouraging statewide fire
prevention programs, and values the continuing collaboration and
financial support that PG&E provides to California communities to
implement fire prevention programs. It allows these communities to meet
their fire prevention needs to protect lives, homes and properties,"
said Jerry Davies, Chairman of the California Fire Safe Council.
Working to Reduce Wildfire Threat
PG&E is working hard to reduce the threat of wildfires. The company
inspects all of its overhead electric lines each year and also inspects
trees along power lines in high fire-danger areas twice a year. As a
result of these inspections, PG&E removed more than 236,000 dead or
dying trees last year to prevent them from contacting power lines,
starting wildfires or contributing to other public safety risks. This is
in addition to the 1.2 million trees that PG&E works each year.
The company also created a dead tree wood clean-up program to help its
customers. PG&E will manage the wood on property or haul away wood from
dead trees felled by the company to protect power lines, at no cost to
the homeowner, in qualifying counties where tree mortality is high. The
wood is being sawn for use as lumber or chipped for use in biomass
facilities to generate renewable energy.
As part of its summer fire detection patrols, PG&E will fly five planes
over routes in the daytime, which is when fires are most likely to
spark. Last year, PG&E detected and reported more than 140 fires,
supporting a quick response to fires before they spread.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco,
with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the
nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and
Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/
and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
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Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company