Understanding Fire Risk
The growing threat of utility-caused wildfires and why undergrounding matters.
The Growing Wildfire Crisis
California faces an escalating wildfire crisis driven by climate change, drought, and aging electrical infrastructure. Overhead power lines have been identified as a leading cause of catastrophic wildfires, responsible for some of the most destructive fires in state history.
How Power Lines Cause Fires
Vegetation Contact
Trees and branches growing into power lines can create sparks and arc faults that ignite surrounding vegetation, especially during dry conditions.
High Wind Events
Strong winds can cause conductors to contact each other or blow debris into lines, creating ignition sources in already dangerous conditions.
Equipment Failure
Aging transformers, connectors, and other equipment can fail catastrophically, showering hot metal onto dry vegetation below.
Conductor Contact
When power lines slap together during wind events, the resulting arc can generate temperatures exceeding 10,000°F.
High Fire Threat Districts
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has designated High Fire Threat Districts (HFTDs) across the state, categorized into Tier 2 (elevated risk) and Tier 3 (extreme risk) areas.
These designations identify regions where the combination of climate, terrain, and vegetation create conditions where a fire start is more likely to result in catastrophic spread.
Communities in these zones face not only increased fire danger but also the impacts of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) during high wind events—leaving residents without power sometimes for days at a time.
- Tier 3: Extreme fire weather and fire history
- Tier 2: Elevated fire risk conditions
- Subject to Public Safety Power Shutoffs
- Higher insurance costs for residents
- Property values impacted by fire risk
The Underground Solution
Undergrounding power distribution lines eliminates the most common causes of utility-sparked wildfires:
- No vegetation contact possible
- Protected from wind events
- No conductor-to-conductor contact
- Equipment protected from weather
- Eliminates need for PSPS events
- Improved service reliability
While undergrounding involves higher upfront costs than traditional overhead construction, the long-term benefits—reduced fire liability, eliminated PSPS events, improved reliability, and enhanced property values—make it an increasingly attractive option for high fire risk areas.
Is Your Community at Risk?
Contact us to discuss whether underground conversion might be right for your area.
Assess Your Community