08/22/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/22/2024 16:17
By Melissa Subbotin and Andria Borba
PG&E continues to make real and meaningful progress in stopping catastrophic wildfires. In fact, the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment has recognized PG&E's wildfire mitigation and prevention efforts.
However, PG&E recognizes that to effectively prevent wildfires, there must be a continuous assessment of wildfire risk and evaluation of conditions that contribute to wildfires. And, when needed, an expansion or development of new layers of protection.
This year, California has seen one of its worst wildfire seasons on record. As of Aug. 21, Cal Fire reports that there have been 5,383 wildfires that have burned 827,880 acres. That represents a significant increase in fire and acres burned from 2023 year to date (4,530 wildfires/116,399 acres burned - Cal Fire and US Forest Service) and the five-year average of acres burned YTD 5,272 wildfires/567,168 acres burned).
In response to evolving conditions, PG&E established a task force to assess and mitigate ignition trends, which is comprised of a cross-functional team led by Andy Abranches, PG&E's senior director of Wildfire Preparedness and Operations.
"This year we assessed the data and saw trends that were above year-to-date and end-of-year targets for the highest risk periods," Abranches said. "That's why we took immediate action. The task force has been conducting a complete analysis to understand the drivers behind the increase in ignitions and most importantly, take quick action to stop or reverse this trend."
Those immediate actions include:
The task force will be activated at least through the end of October.
This effort is the latest addition to PG&E's broader CommunityWildfire Safety Program, which started in 2018, and over the last six years has helped establish multiple layers of wildfire protection to significantly reduce risk.
In 2023, PG&E saw a 72% reduction in CPUC-reportable ignitions on Enhanced Powerline Safety Setting (EPSS)-enabled lines in High Fire-Threat Districts (compared with the 2018-2020 average). EPSS allows our powerlines to automatically turn off within one-tenth of a second if a hazard, like a tree branch comes into contact with powerlines - which can cause a fire.
In addition to EPSS, PG&E's laser-focused wildfire mitigation layers of protection include:
Using real-time data, PG&E continues to assess risk and further enhance wildfire mitigation efforts.
"We remain committed to our stand that Catastrophic Wildfires Shall Stop, and for our part, that begins with a solid plan that includes integrating state-of-the-art technology and the 24/7 dedication of our coworkers," said Mark Quinlan, senior vice president of Wildfire, Emergency and Operations. "As conditions change, we will take action to meet the challenge."