Wildfire prevention

Fire Weather Forecasted

Hot, dry and windy conditions are forecast for the Kittitas Valley. As part of PSE’s wildfire safe operations, we turned on system settings that are more sensitive to potential hazards.

Enhanced Powerline Settings are designed to help keep you safe, but they can result in unplanned power outages.

This is not a Public Safety Power Shutoff, where we proactively turn off power in advance of severe weather. 

For more information or to report a power outage, visit PSE’s Outage map.

PSE takes a holistic approach to the evolving risk of wildfires by operating and improving our infrastructure to create an electric system that is reliable, resilient, and above all, safe.

PSE's Wildfire Risk Management Program includes our year-round work to prevent wildfires by:

Investing in projects to strengthen our infrastructure.
Utilizing tools and new technologies to enhance situational awareness.
Monitoring real-time conditions and operating the electric system at varying levels of sensitivity.
Partnering with emergency responders, local organizations, and our customers to build more resilient communities.

Read our current Wildfire Mitigation Plan for more details.

Year-round prevention efforts

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Vegetation management

Trees and other vegetation that grow too close to power lines can cause power outages and create sparks, so PSE’s Vegetation Management program regularly inspects power lines throughout our service area and trims or removes hazardous trees and other vegetation.

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Strengthening the grid

PSE replaces and upgrades equipment to improve reliability and help prevent wildfires, including regularly inspecting and replacing poles, wires and other equipment, installing "tree wire" (specially coated overhead wire that helps prevent sparks, and strategically undergrounding power lines in areas with the highest wildfire risk.

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Wildfire safe operations

PSE monitors real-time conditions and will operate our electric system more sensitively during the summer months to prevent wildfires. When weather conditions are severe, we may turn on Enhanced Powerline Settings (EPS) or use a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) to help keep our customers and communities safe.

How you can prepare for peak wildfire season

Create and practice a household emergency plan and build an emergency kit.
Make sure your PSE account contact information is up to date.
If you use a medical device in your home that relies on electricity, apply for Life Support status on your account.
Learn more about how we operate the electric grid to prevent wildfires and keep communities safe, including using Public Safety Power Shutoffs.
Get your free Wildfire Ready Plan from Washington Department of Natural Resources and take action to make your home and community more resilient.
If you notice a tree that is dangerously close to overhead power lines or appears to be in poor health, please call your local PSE arborist or fill out our contact form.
Visit our Resources page to learn more about local organizations and programs to help you prepare for wildfire season, emergencies, and power outages.