Year Round Maintenance, New Technology Increase APS Wildfire Resilience

Across a sprawling network of more than 38,000 miles of power lines, APS crews are on the front lines year-round conducting patrols – on foot, by vehicle and in the air – to protect and maintain a strong and resilient energy system. With Arizona’s hot summers, low rainfall and dry vegetation, APS is taking more action to support wildfire-prone communities by installing innovative fire and weather tracking technology on its grid and enhancing its robust wildfire mitigation program.

 

• Installing new weather stations on power lines to track weather patterns that could cause a fire.
• Using new advanced cameras on electrical equipment to monitor potential signs of a fire from a command center.
• Modeling data and utilizing advanced software to inform predictions about fire probability and which direction a particular wildfire is likely to travel.
• Incorporating drone technology to assess areas where vegetation may grow into power lines.

• Strengthening power poles in higher-risk fire areas with fire mesh to shield equipment from fire damage.
• Clearing at least 10 feet of space of potentially hazardous vegetation, like weeds, brush, branches and trees from power poles, substations and other electrical equipment.
• Inspecting on average 40,000 power poles per year to ensure they are clear of hazards.

• Creating a meteorological team to track hazardous weather conditions and wildfires and provide guidance about emergency response.
• Collaborating with fire authorities and emergency response agencies on emergency preparedness and response plans to keep Arizonans, their pets, livestock and property safe.
• Ongoing training and education for specialized APS fire mitigation experts who have experience working on hot shot crews and respond to wildfires in partnership with firefighters.
• Under extreme weather conditions and in a limited approach, utilizing Public Safety Power Shutoffs to maintain the safety of people, communities and firefighters.

 

• Remove overgrown vegetation, trash or debris around your property.
• Build an emergency supplies kit that includes items such as non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries and a portable cell phone charger. Have a plan and emergency contact list ready.
• Download the APS app or visit aps.com/outagecenter and create an online account to receive text or email alerts and safety tips in case of a power outage.
• Update your contact information with APS to ensure you receive important information.
• Sign up for your county’s emergency alert system.

 

For more information on APS’s wildfire prevention programs, visit aps.com/wildfires.