Many large utilities are under scrutiny for de-energizing lines during high fire danger periods — typically during stage three fire restrictions or red flag days. These periods span almost the entire spring through fall season in southern Colorado.
San Isabel Electric doesn’t issue shut offs
At San Isabel Electric, we will not issue pre-emptive shutdown orders unless directed by government agencies during an extreme weather event or active fire. During this summer’s Oak Ridge Fire and the 2018 Spring Fire, emergency managers requested lines only be de-energized where the fire was actively burning to protect firefighters from downed lines and other hazards. The cooperative’s proactive vegetation management program, coupled with concentrated efforts to harden the grid, has resulted in a more resilient power delivery system. This resilience significantly reduces the need for complete shutdowns, ensuring that our community remains powered even during high-risk periods.
What we do to prevent fires
We have developed outstanding working relationships with local emergency managers and first responders. Those relationships are critical in serving our communities during a crisis.
In 2020, we rolled out a comprehensive fire mitigation program designed to address fire risks without resorting to shut offs. When the National Weather Service issues a red flag warning, SIEA proactively places high-risk portions of our system’s protective devices called “reclosers” into a “one-shot” operation. This means our system becomes highly sensitive, and even the smallest interruption — including a momentary blink — triggers an outage in that area. Re-energizing after these devices operate requires a physical inspection by a line crew to ensure no objects or dangerous conditions are present which, while causing more frequent and longer outages, prioritizes safety over convenience.
Our strategy is based on geographic analysis, allowing us to identify high-risk areas within our service territory. Factors like landscape, human population, natural resources, risk ratings, burn probability, and fire intensity scale predictions are considered to effectively target our efforts. A cornerstone of our fire prevention strategy is vegetation management. Overgrowth near power lines can create significant fire hazards. In response, SIEA increased the size of our tree-trimming crews and re-evaluated our trimming cycle. We maintain a three-year cycle in rapid growth areas, and a seven-year cycle in slower growth areas. We urge our members to report trees that appear too close to power lines and to keep their own trees and bushes regularly trimmed. Professional trimming by trained personnel is crucial for maintaining safe clearances around power lines.
For homes situated in or near grasslands, shrublands, foothills, or mountains, being in the wildland-urban interface inherently increases wildfire risk. Review the Colorado State Forest Service guide for tips to reduce your home’s wildfire risk.
Fire prevention is personal
The Spring Fire of 2018 personally impacted many SIEA employees and member-owners and underscored the importance of our fire mitigation strategies. This fire, one of Colorado’s largest on record, required us to de-energize lines within the burn area to protect firefighters and prevent additional fires starting from damaged lines. Our team worked tirelessly to rebuild the lines and restore power once the fire was contained, demonstrating our commitment to our community. SIEA employees live and work in southern Colorado. We are deeply integrated into the fabric of our community — our children play with the children of our members, we worship together, and see each other at the grocery store. Our primary role is being their friends, family, and neighbors; our service-oriented role as their electric co-op comes second. Whether it’s helping someone evacuate their family, giving someone a hug, or rebuilding poles to get their power back on, we prioritize the well-being of our member-owners first.
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