PGE Reflects on a Summer of Preparation and Partnership

Brian Henrichs, Division Chief of the Hoodland Fire District, stood outside of the Huckleberry Inn in Government camp, looking down Highway 26 toward Gresham and the Portland metro region beyond.

"My biggest fear is that we're going to have a fire that starts on the east end of the district in an east wind event, and that fire is going to make significant runs down slope," said Chief Henrichs.

Henrichs' concerns are shared by many people across Oregon. Preventing wildfire takes more than local fire crews - it requires businesses, government and communities working together. That's why Portland General Electric launched its concentrated wildfire prevention efforts in 2018.

Since then, the company has invested millions in infrastructure hardening, advanced technology for situational awareness and year-round engagement with communities, agency partners and emergency responders. PGE's strategies, as detailed in a comprehensive wildfire prevention plan that was updated earlier this year , are forecast to deliver approximately a 40% reduction in wildfire risk in high fire risk zones over the life of the investments.

It's a year-round effort , and the scope goes far beyond what most people realize.

Vegetation management and grid hardening

Take, for example, the utility crews that trim back trees and brush. That work is a critical part of PGE's wildfire prevention work.

Alex Konopka, Sr Manager of Vegetation Management at PGE works year-round to maintain vegetation along power lines across 4,000 square miles of land in our service area.

"Every year, we clear all high fire risk zones," said Konopka. "That work is critical to preventing ignitions and keeping our communities safe, and our data show the program reduces outages in those areas by approximately 35%."

Keeping vegetation clear is only one part of the solution. PGE plans to spend around $65 million in capital costs in 2025 hardening the grid against extreme weather and wildfire risk.

That work includes replacing wooden poles with metal in high-risk areas, installing covered conductor to reduce sparks, and adding early-detection equipment capable of sensing disruptions in a line that could lead to an ignition.

Data is critical

Technology is now central to wildfire prevention. PGE's network of nearly 40 AI-powered cameras provides 24-hour monitoring across high-risk areas. They're trained to recognize smoke - not clouds, not dust - and send out automatic alerts to our team and emergency responders when something looks suspicious.

PGE also relies on its in-house meteorology team to forecast conditions that drive fire danger, including wind, heat and humidity. Those forecasts guide staffing, equipment staging and, when necessary, Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

"Weather is one of the biggest threats to the grid," said senior meteorologist Lisa Kriederman. "Having access to information, especially weather information is highly critical in terms of keeping people safe."

No one can do this alone

No single organization can manage wildfire risk alone. It's a societal problem that requires broad solutions from policy makers and cooperation among businesses, first responders and public agencies.

PGE partners closely with local fire districts, emergency managers and state agencies to coordinate prevention and response. From joint training exercises to real-time information sharing, these partnerships enable faster response times and more effective action when wildfire threats arise.

"I think that the partnerships that have been built in the Highway 26 corridor with PGE are adding up to big things," said Chief Henrichs. "Relationships are important. When we have a situation, I don't have to hunt for a number or go through a phone tree. I know these people. I can call Zach at PGE, and he can get me the answer."

Ongoing effort

Wildfire prevention is never finished. Every investment we make-whether it's in equipment, technology or partnerships-helps us build a safer, more resilient grid for our customers.