PG&E Flying Low Over Sonoma County This Week

SONOMA and MENDOCINO COUNTIES, CA - From Pacific Gas and Electric: As part of its response to California’s tree mortality crisis, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will conduct aerial patrols in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties starting today, Tuesday, September 19, through the 22, to identify dead trees that could pose a wildfire or other public safety risk.

“Even with the abundant rain this winter, five years of drought in California have caused millions of trees to die or become structurally compromised. That’s why we are taking extraordinary measures to help keep the communities we serve safe,” said Kamran Rasheed, manager, PG&E vegetation management.

Every year, PG&E patrols and inspects all of its overhead electric lines. Since the tree mortality crisis began, the energy company has been inspecting trees along power lines in high fire-danger areas a second time, six months after its annual patrol because weakened trees can die quickly. Last year, PG&E conducted second patrols on 68,000 miles of power line, and in 2017, expects to patrol 73,000 miles of line a second time. The company will patrol 10,750 of those miles by helicopter.

Depending on clear weather conditions, the helicopter will leave the Sonoma County Airport and
the Ukiah Municipal Airport at 8 a.m. and fly through 4 p.m. over the following areas:

Tuesday, September 19:

• Highway 12 and Highway 101 over the cities of Santa Rosa, Sonoma and Windsor and over the communities of Boyes Hot Springs, Aqua Caliente, Schellville, El Verano, Mark West and Fulton.

Wednesday, September 20:

• Highway 101 over Santa Rosa, Windsor and Cotati and over the communities of Fulton, Mark West, Tomales, Dillon Beach and Valley Ford.

Thursday, September 21:

• Over the town of Covelo and the community of Dos Rios.

Friday, September 22:

• Highway 101 over the town of Laytonville and the communities of Branscomb and Longvale.

PG&E is using a contract helicopter service to fly foresters over the area to inspect trees. Patrolling by air allows the company to cover many miles quickly and efficiently, and reduces impacts on the ground. Residents are advised that the helicopter will fly low – about 200 to 300 feet – along distribution power lines, and higher in areas where livestock are present.

Photo courtesy of PG&E