Wildfire Mitigation at Park Electric Cooperative

At Park Electric Cooperative, delivering safe, reliable, affordable electricity is a core responsibility. As the dry, hot season approaches, concerns about wildfire risks are front and center. In recent years, wildfire mitigation has become an increasingly important focus for utilities across Montana. We introduced our first formal wildfire mitigation plan in 2021 and have continued to refine it annually.

You may be familiar with House Bill 490 (HB490), legislation designed to support and encourage electric utilities in developing and following wildfire mitigation plans. For us at Park Electric, this work is not just a compliance issue; it’s a commitment to public safety and service reliability. Wildfire mitigation is a top priority.

While it’s impossible to eliminate wildfire risk entirely, we are taking every practical step to reduce the potential for electric system-caused fires. Our plan outlines the strategies, programs, and protocols we follow to help prevent wildfires. It’s tailored to the unique characteristics of our service area, including our terrain, weather patterns, infrastructure, and fire-prone zones. Key aspects of our plan include maintaining power lines, equipment, and managing vegetation in rights-of-way.

Many of you may have seen our crews out in the field working hard. Here’s a look at what they’re doing and why it matters:

  • Vegetation Management: One of our biggest prevention tasks is clearing trees and brush from the right-of-way. Tree limbs can grow quickly and, if left unmanaged, may come into contact with power lines, causing outages or even igniting fires. Routine trimming helps, but some trees require complete removal to ensure long-term safety. Keeping these areas clear is essential for reliability and fire prevention.
  • Pole Testing and Replacement: We inspect over 20,000 utility poles on a rotating basis to ensure they remain structurally sound. Weak or damaged poles can fall, leading to outages and increased fire risk from arcing. Poles that don’t meet safety standards are scheduled for replacement to help maintain the integrity of our system, especially during high winds or storms.
  • Line Patrols: Our crews patrol approximately 1,700 miles of power lines to identify and address potential issues. These patrols are done regularly and help us stay ahead of maintenance needs. Any concerns found during these inspections are prioritized and repaired promptly.
  • One-Shot Protection Settings: During peak fire season, typically from early August through early October, we adjust certain high-risk sections of our system to a “one-shot” setting. If a fault occurs, the line will shut down immediately and stay off until crews can inspect and repair it. Though this can result in more frequent outages, it significantly reduces the chance of multiple arcs, which could ignite fires. Under normal settings, a line might attempt to reclose three times, producing multiple arcs. The one-shot setting minimizes that risk.
  • Fire Suppression Readiness: As an extra precaution, our crews carry large water tanks with electric or gas-powered pumps to quickly suppress any small fires that may start during outages or routine work.

We hope this gives you a clearer picture of the efforts we’re making to reduce wildfire risk and protect the communities we serve. While our efforts focus on minimizing risks related to electrical equipment, wildfires can ignite from many other sources. That’s why we encourage all members to take preventive measures around their properties by clearing potential fire fuels such as tall grass, brush, and overgrown trees, especially those located near homes or other structures. If you notice overgrown vegetation growing close to power lines or equipment, please contact our office so our crews can safely handle its removal. It’s also a good idea to create an evacuation plan that includes safe routes and emergency contacts. Your local fire department is a great resource for additional advice on protecting your property and reducing wildfire hazards.

Thank you for being part of our cooperative and helping to keep our communities safe.