Pacific Power Prepares for Active Wildfire Season, Warns of Possible Outages

PORTLAND, Ore. — Pacific Power says it is preparing its system for an active wildfire season across the Pacific Northwest, and customers may see longer or more frequent outages in some high-risk areas as safety measures are used to reduce fire danger.

In a news release issued Tuesday, the utility said dry conditions across the region have increased concern heading into summer. Pacific Power pointed to outlooks from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center and the National Interagency Fire Center, which indicate warmer and drier than normal conditions are expected in many areas.

As part of its wildfire prevention work, Pacific Power said it is using enhanced safety settings and protective equipment designed to automatically shut off power when lines come into contact with debris, wildlife or strong winds.

The company said it may also temporarily de-energize power lines during periods of extreme risk. Those shutoffs are intended to reduce the chance of a wildfire starting or to help limit the spread of an active fire, but they can also mean outages for customers.

“We are preparing for an active wildfire season across our service area and taking proactive steps to reduce risk,” said Carrie Laird, Pacific Power’s vice president of wildfire mitigation and emergency operations.

Pacific Power said it monitors weather and wildfire conditions using more than 350 weather stations and other tools across its service territory. The utility is encouraging customers to make sure their contact information is current so they can receive outage notifications.

Customers are also encouraged to review backup power options, prepare emergency kits and have a plan in place before fire danger increases further this summer.