PG&E Begins Daily Aerial Patrols to Spot, Speed Wildfire Response; Adds Two New Routes to 2018 Schedule
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has begun its daily aerial fire
detection patrols across hundreds of miles of its service area. This
year, PG&E has added two new routes to the patrols which assist the U.S.
Forest Service, CAL FIRE and local fire agencies with early fire
detection and response. Early detection of smoke or fire allows fire
agencies to quickly respond to accurate locations.
“Wildfires in California have grown in number, size and intensity in
recent years. We all must adapt to this new normal and do even more to
prevent and prepare for fires. That’s why we’ve increased the area and
number of customers that our daily aerial patrols will cover to help
keep communities safe,” said Pat Hogan, PG&E senior vice president of
Electric Operations.
The patrols began on June 1 and will run until October 31, unless
conditions allow for an earlier end or require an extension. Seven
planes will fly daily routes from late afternoon until dusk.
Using fixed-wing aircraft, fire spotters will operate along these routes:
-
Redding to Auburn in the Northern Sierra
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Auburn to Sonora in the Central Sierra
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Sonora to Porterville in the Southern Sierra
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Redding to Humboldt to Lake County
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Vacaville to Solvang near the coast
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Redding to Hoopa to McArthur (Siskiyou County and northeastern Shasta
County)
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Mendocino County
The patrols are coordinated through PG&E's aerial operations. The
Mendocino County route is co-funded by PG&E and run by the Mendocino
County Aerial Fire Patrol Co-Operative. The Co-Op patrol is scheduled to
begin June 15 and run through October 15.
In 2017, PG&E patrols identified approximately 250 fires, 20 of which
were first reports. The patrols totaled more than 3,500 flight hours.
PG&E began operating the aerial patrols in 2014, after the governor
issued a drought emergency declaration. PG&E has continued the patrols
because of the scale of tree mortality in California.
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 energy companies 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 pge.com/news.
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Copyright Business Wire 2018
Source: Business Wire
(June 7, 2018 - 1:08 PM EDT)
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